Natumolan, STI sweep cage tilt

Saturday, December 17, 2011

DEFENDING champion Dole Philippines and COC Scorpions came back strong on Sunday's Game 2, creating a euphoria inside the "mini stadium" of Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.

But when the smoke of battle cleared, homeground squad Natumolan and STI Olympians prevailed, sweeping both their respective best-of-3 championship series, 2-0 to bag the inter-commercial and inter-collegiate plums of the cash-rich 2011 Mayor Paulino Yap Emano Cup basketball tourney.

Have something to report? Tell us in text, photos or videos.

The Natumolan dribblers of coach Diding Rivera found the Jester Adams-led Dole seething with fire after a 105-89 Game 1 debacle.

With old mainstays Rex Quilo, Warren Plasos, Eric Ytang, Kenneth Singedas, Russel Badal, Jeffrey Abrigana and Loui Salceda also putting solid performances on both ends of the floor, Dole was dictating the match against the much taller challengers mostly culled from the now asleep Liga Pilipinas.

However, in the most important part of the game--the final 3 minutes--the heavily-favored Natumolan built around the seasoned backcourt troika of Ramil Tagupa, Moreño and Tanigue and inside power Gonzaga, Lao, Daja, Cezar, Gerilla, Mejorada and Rocky Sanchez threw their full might to barely hang on.

Equally-exciting was the inter-collegiate duel marked by torrid exchange of baskets and lead changes before the STI Olympians of coach Boy Dacoco finally made a breakthrough in the killer stretch to overcome COC paced by the foursome of Heherson Gayla, Arrd Evan Diango, Raymond Catipay and Claunan with the score of 98-91.

"COC's been a very tough opponent. Height, talent and depth you name it balanse kaayo ilang linya. Lingaw ang finals basta sila among makontra," Dacoco told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.

Tagupa's court leadership won for him the MVP, while STI's go-to-guy Jun Daanoy was adjudged the inter-collegiate's best player.

Natumolan team bagged the biggest championship purse of P50,000 plus trophy. STI went home P25,000 richer in the league that offered close to P200,000 in total cash prizes.

Completing the STI's triumphant roster were Sabah Ala Cox, Mahershalalhasbag Eduave, John Rey Manatad, Richard Kwong, John Rey Manatad, Jone Ray Villar, Edgar Allan Oncila, Jay Calang, Norahel Kenneth Lerio, Bronco James Bolanio, Marc Jan Voight Acenas, Billy Abato and Emmanuel Akut III with Lawrence Pastrano as assistant coach.