TRMH-VMO posts 2nd win, upsets Montaña Pawnshop

HIGHLY-touted The Royal Mandaya Hotel-Vice Mayor's Office (TRMH-VMO) rallied in the third period to upset defending champion Montaña Pawnshop, 78-76, on Day 2 of the Mayor Inday Sara and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw Commercial Basketball Tournament at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center on Wednesday evening.

The Goldstar Hardware, whose import Jamelle Cornley and other Cebu City-based players were no-show, only fielded five local mainstays in beating Team Villar, 85-82, in the main game.

The Glenn Escandor-owned and Christopher "Bong" Go-managed TRMH-VMO was behind by two points at halftime but they snatched the lead over the Armand Quibod-owned Montaña, 62-60, in the third canto behind the 14 points of JR Gerilla who finished with 22 points. Mark Andaya added 20 markers for the Miguel Solitaria-mentored TRMH-VMO squad.

Devon Sullivan and Dino Daa sank 19 and 14 points, respectively, for Montaña of coach Nick Serafica.

Solitaria, in a phone interview, said their deep bench and a couple of veteran players were two of the big factors that gave them the needed win.

"I also want to give my coaching staff credit as well. Their inputs before and during the game really made a difference," said Solitaria who was pertaining to assistant coaches Rhoel Hosol, Bambi Santander, Dindo Pastor, Cadel Mosqueda and Mark Bonifacio.

Serafica, for his part, said: "Hindi namin napigilan ang mga big men ng kabilang team. Marami din kaming mintis sa free throw line."

TRMH-VMO was set to play Goldstar Hardware while Montaña's next assignment was Team Villar on the third day of competition Thursday night.

Controversial five

Short-handed Goldstar Hardware, coached by Jigger Saniel, surged from a 41-50 deficit in the first half, with Alvin Pasaol drilling in 22 points in the second half of his total 35 points. Teammate Eugene Torres chipped in 26.

But Goldstar Hardware reportedly caught the ire of Dabawenyo basketball fans for fieding only five players in the game. The usually jampacked Almendras Gym, according to observers, was not filled at all during the second game pitting Goldstar Hardware against Team Villar as some spectators left the venue after seeing only five locals playing for Goldstar Hardware.

Goldstar Hardware coach Saniel, in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao on Thursday, said: "Wala man miy mahimo kung dili na mudula si Cornley ug katong mga taga Cebu kay na-frustrate sila sa officiating atong first game. Niuli naman lang sila. Dili namo sila mapugos nga mudula pa (We really can't do anything about Cornley and those Cebu players who no longer wanted to play since they were frustrated by the calls made by the referees during the first game. They already left. We can't force them to play)."

Saniel also said they did not abandon the league as they still played despite only having five players. He added that they will finish the tournament with nine local players expected to see action opposite TRMH-VMO.

League for Dabawenyos

William "Butch" Ramirez, secretary-general of the tournament organizer Liga Dabaw Inc., said Goldstar Hardware's fielding of only five players was "unfortunate."

In a text reply to Sun.Star Davao's query on the issue, Ramirez said: "As organizer in behalf of Liga Dabaw and the City Government of Davao that funded the tournament for the Araw ng Dabaw for all Dabawenyos who watched the scenario of Goldstar fielding only five players doesn't serve well for the people of Davao."

Ramirez went on saying, "Whatever happens in the area of officiating and the result of the game, character and values should prevail while the incurred expenses for their teams, we should thank them for their love of the game as they have a social responsibility to the community."

Ramirez added that since the game was sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), he is leaving the matter to the SBP officialdom.

"It was beyond our control but we have to learn lessons out of this event. The games will go on for all Dabawenyos," Ramirez said.

Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge Pochollo Elegino, who was not around during the controversial game, said he only heard from others what really transpired.

"We want the best for the Dabawenyos, entertain them through quality games. What happened could really dismay basketball fans but I also want to hear the side of Goldstar to be fair with them," Elegino said in a text message.

Elegino's office is funding the cash prizes and officiating fees of the tournament as part of the Araw ng Dabaw Sports Festival.

The SBP, meanwhile, has yet to issue a statement regarding the controversy.