Black waiting for Oro Bankers cagefest finals

Monday, October 24, 2011

ERWIN Raagas and the Blue Titans were almost there Friday, trying to end the Black Hawks' unbeaten mark in the 1st Oro Bankers Inter-Color basketball tourney at the Nazareth gym here.

With just 20 seconds to go and the Titans leading by two, 60-58, the crowd seemed at the tip of viewing a sequel of the "Black Hawks Down" movie.

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"Peldi na," words like these can be heard around. When suddenly, the amazing Charome Marte again rose to the occasion and spoiled the opposing side's impending celebration.

Shaking off an old hamstring injury, Marte hit a 3-pointer on top of the hulking arms of the 6-foot-3 Raagas before hitting the floor. To his teammates' great delight, Marte immediately got back on his knee and completed a 4-point play from the line.

With still enough time, the late-arriving Marvin Luke Neri fished a foul at the turn but bungled his first free throw. He intentionally missed his second throw but Governor Oscar Moreno secured the rebound and the five-straight win (62-60) for Black of team manager Hazel Padero.

"He's (Marte) been used to that kind of situation during college days. Paborito gyod ni Etram sa una pa kana'ng mga pressure-packed moments," said Thirdie Cui who earlier powered the White Stallions to a 93-82 victory over the winless Red.

Struggling with only 5 points to show in second and third quarters combined, Marte found himself looking for liniments in desperate effort to relieve an aching pulled muscle on his thigh. He got one (Nanz herbal oil) from Revic--the better half of tournament director Arnel DyShine--and did a quick massage by his lonesome.

"Gabalik-balik na og sakit akong hamstring. After this, it's difficult to say now if I can deliver such feat again. Gapiyong na ko kay mingitngit pag-block ni Bodo pero calculated na pagdagpak nako sa salog," Marte told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

With pointguard Neri showing up for Blue in just the outset of the third quarter, the Titans' offense was hardly the same as Raagas could only pull off 16, way behind from his 25-point average in previous games.

"Naay importante nga lakaw si Marvin outside Cagayan de Oro. Gipugos na lang niya nga makabalik pa sa dula," one Blue insider said.

Four White dribblers -- Stephen Go 31, Cui 14, Anton Pabillore 13, PJ Sanchez 11 -- scored in double-digit numbers against the Ryan Arpay-led Red, which only had six players in uniform.

After the tip-off, White converted 13 of the 25 freethrows awarded to them.

"We don't know yet the tiebreak in case of a tie sa team standing. Ang importante nga mapilde namo ang Blue on Wednesday to ensure nga kami ang mokontra sa Black in the finals," said Dunix Pajaron who finally scored his first 2 points in the league via a reverse layup on three attempts from underneath.

The score:

White Stallions 93 -- Go 31, Cui 14, Pabillore 13, Sanchez 11, Borinaga 6, Miralles 5, Dollente 4, Pajaron 2, Deguit 2, Yacapin 0, Tandoy 0.

Red Typhoon 82 -- Arpay 37, Cadiz 18, Canlas 11, Lagasca 7, Ostrea P. 5, Sescon 4.

2nd game

Black Hawks 62 -- Yaranon 20, Marte 13, Agcopra 11, Simon 8, Timonera 6, Paler 2, Pastor 2, Moreno 0, Ranes 0, Galvez 0.

Blue Titans 60 -- Raagas 16, Abueme 15, Varga 7, Baltazar 6, Ostrea M. 5, Valencia 4, Neri 2, Melitante 2, Gabase 0, Crisostomo 0, Pabelic 0.