Terra Dolce/Jollibee bag SJI alumni hoopfest crown

TERRA Dolce (TD)/Jollibee 1990/91/92 waited four years and finally got the monkey off its back to bag the 5th St. John’s Institute Alumni (SJI) Basketball Friendship Cup title at the Msgr. John Liu Activities Center.

Bridesmaid for the last three years, TD answered the challenge of Shakeys/New Energy 2008/10/11, 71-60 to capture its first SJI Alumni championship.

Most Valuable Player Peewee Demonteverde was unstoppable in the 1st quarter, exploding for 20 points in leading Jollibee to a commanding 32-5 opening quarter lead. Teammate Bol Manaloto added 6 points.

Dominic Ciocon, Richard Co and Glin Ortaliz completed the TD five that provided a near perfect defense, as they did not allow a single point in the shaded area.

Shakey’s showed signs of life in the 2nd quarter, as Luigi Coo and Allen Dionela strung up 5 straight points each to cut the deficit to 43-22 at the break.

Jollibee extended the lead anew to their biggest lead at 51-24 on a Bol Manaloto lay-up. But Mark Coo strung up 5 of the next 6 points for Shakey’s to cut the lead to 53-30 with less than 5 minutes left in the 3rdquarter.

TD experienced anxious moments as the full court pressure by Shakey’s rattled Jollibee as Jappy Cuaycong and Allen Dionela pounced on the Jollibee turnovers to stay within striking distance going to the 4th quarter 54-43.

But the veteran Jollibee players of coach Jimmy Yap recovered their bearings on a 6-0 run behind Dominic Ciocon’s inside incursions.

Even though Shakey’s cut the lead anew to 60-49, the lead remained at 14 points with 1:30 remaining in the game.

Cuaycong and Dionela scored 6 straight points for its last ditch stand to cut the lead to its lowest level since the 1st quarter at 65-57 with 46.4 seconds left but Demonteverde went 4 of 4 from the line to seal the title for Jollibee.

“We won the championship because of our camaraderie, team chemistry and the knowledge that we really had to win this year after 3 straight runner-up finishes. We were very tired but the will to win was there despite the very big age handicap. After all is said and done, we are all a united Hua Ming family and the purpose of getting the alumni together was accomplished,” Team Manager Miles Abello said

Demonteverde delivered a game-high 28 points, Manaloto added 18 points, Ortaliz scored 7 points while Toffel Tan, Ciocon and Co made 6 points each.

Cuaycong and Mark Coo paced New Energy with 11 points each, backstopped by Dionela with 10 points, Luigi Coo 9 points, Daniel Ong 6 points and Charles Del Castillo 5 points.

Ceres Pasalubong 2006/07 salvaged 3rd place by outplaying Phoenix 99/2k, 102-80. Ceres offense was spearheaded by Brian Coo and Christopher Mahinay who tallied 15 points apiece and Bryan Victor Javelosa with 13 points while Phoenix was led by Eduardo Ng’s 20 points, Mark Jimenez 16 points and Paolo Li 15 points.

The tournament was officiated by NORECOM headed by Tony Salvacion. Stephen Tan