Resolute White Stallions bag title

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

PLAYING their best offensively and defensively, the White Stallions -- who earlier declared to bring the Black Hawks down -- left no doubt on Friday, snaring the first inter-color title of the Oro Bankers basketball tournament at the Nazareth gym here.

The Stallions' 72-62 conquest of erstwhile top-running Hawks wrapped up the best-of-3 series, 2-1, as coach Manny Diaz and his determined wards under the supervision of team managers Jessie Tolod and Mafel Gatchalian proudly go down to the local sports' history book as the first Oro Bankers' cage team champion since the tourney's revival from a decade-long lull.

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"Puhon managko ug magka-apo na atong mga anak, dili mawala nga part na gyod kita sa history karon nga we are the champion na. We have the Amazing Charome Marte of Black and Blue's Erwin Raagas as league MVP, pero klaro pa kang Pacman that White emerged as the clear champion of the Oro Bankers tourney nga walay duda," Junix "Derek Ramsay" Pajaron said in ecstasy he shared with fellow role players Jobors Borinaga, Bong Tandoy, Blue Meralles, Dexter Deguit and Don Dumaya during the team's initial celebration at Bagong Lipunan Restaurant.

But despite the "dirty works" on the floor contributed by the defensive minded Pajaron and company, White's big comeback from Game 1 debacle will not be completed without the heady leadership of Thirdie "Sturdy" Cui and Angel "Suave" Dollente that inspired another dizzying show by the "hurricane duo" of Stephen Go and PJ Sanchez.

Raagas' closest rival for the MVP plum, the high-flying Go did not just scrape the hoops for his biggest night in November. The rarely-heard talking Go also unveiled one lethal armory that he's also good at: the 3-point shooting.

Surprisingly not among the contestants in 3-point shootout won by Blue's underated gunner Ian Baltazar, Go spiked his big 30 points with 3 crucial baskets from beyond the arc to keep Black at bay every time momentum threatens to change favor.

"Sa ako sila naka-focus maybe without considering nga mopatay gihapon si Go sa tres," said the lefty Sanchez, a finalist in the 3-point contest, who backed Go with 13 points.

Trailing by as many as 14, the Black dribblers' return engagement with coach Dante Banquerigo looked like heading for payback time after Marte's jumper and Gov. Oscar Moreno's steal that was converted by James Simon eventually cut White's lead to only two, 54-52 at the start of the 4th and final quarter.

But the Stallions' teamwork play on both ends of the floor was too much for Black to handle. Much more on defense that even held James Timonera, easily the league's tallest guy at 6-foot-4, scoreless throughout the game.

"At first, medyo discourage ang uban after we learned that our starting pointguard (Anton Pabillore) will not be able to play. But I told them guys this is the deciding Game 3 we can win it if we just believe in ourselves," said Cui, arguably Black's untangled mystery in the middle.

Nevertheless, Black's consistent big 3 -- Jet Yaranon, Simon, Marte -- were able to put up good numbers with the former getting most of his 26 markers from the free throw line.

Yaranon piled up a total of 18 freebies from the line with Marte, Simon and Mon Collera combining 13.

"Sa free throw gyod sila mapadulong kay finally gigamit ni coach Manny iyang secret weapon sa depensa in the most important game of the finals," Pajaron said in jest, adding "Inspired sab kaayo ko kay nag-watch si Sir Roger Uy nga maoy nagpa-regular sa ako sa bangko," referring to the now-retired manager of Metro Bank.

Although leaving the Nazareth court with a heavy feeling, tournament director Arnel DyShines told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro the Black cagers were never a bad loser.

"And you can take it from the amazing veteran," DyShines said of Marte, who right away texted his avid fans with these words: "Hats off to the white team. They played as a team. They were well prepared and you can't take that away from them. They are worthy champs."

The first team to hire a commercial coach in the maiden season of the Oro Bankers' inter-color hoopfest, the White Stallions -- also having Dover Yacapin, Percy Sablada and Lloyd Canadilla in their roster --enjoyed the financial support of EEE Trucking and General Services and DD Toys through Lab, Lina Faburada and Lilia Capistrano.

"Nangita gyod mi'g sumpay ni Jess sa among resources. Ana `mi ka determinado sa White nga mo-champion," was madam Gatchalian's parting shot.

The score:

White Stallions 72--Go 30, Sanchez 13, Cui 9, Deguit 7, Dumaya 5, Pajaron 2, Meralles 2, Tandoy 2, Dollente 0, Borinaga 0, Tolod 0.

Black Hawks 62--Yaranon 26, Simon 13, Marte 11, Collera 7, Ranes 3, Banaag 2, Paler 2, Timonera 0, Gov. Moreno 0, Agcopra 0, Pastor 0, Manila 0.