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Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Ex-Mustangs cager lifts quintet to victory
ERSTWHILE West Negros College (WNC) Mustangs cager Jesse Mar Gabihan scored a game-high 47 points to lead the Ma-ao Sugar Central dribblers to a championship title in the just-concluded Ma-ao Invitational Basketball League held last December 30, Barangay Ma-ao, Bago City.
Tagged as the "F1," Gabihan showcased tremendous speed and high percentage shots from beyond the arc with 75 percent clip.
Playing with an all-around game, he also took his guards off his dribbles and drove hard into the basket challenging the big men of the homegrown squad.
Teammate Ronald Arabia backed Gabihan with a big 26 baskets powering the painted area alongside Roel Balgos with 14 points.
Last year's WNC starting center Arnold Laureño dominated the center position grabbing 20 points and 11 rebounds.
Cager Delina, on the other hand, powered the BMS Ma-ao II squad with 33 points along with comrade Bayhon with 20.
During the first half of the ballgame, both teams scrambled for every ball position putting their score a pull-away attempt of each team.
No chances were given even beneath the boards recording a total of five blocks at the half.
Before the end of the first half, both teams were tied at 44 all.
Less than 20 seconds remaining, Gabihan made a triple through a jumper at the left wing putting the MSC at the lead by three points.
However, at less than five seconds left before the buzzer, MSC's Jayganie Palabrica stole the ball off BMS Ma-ao's fastbreak attempt and made a short jumper beating the clock and ended the half at 49-44.
At the start of the second half, the MSC clippers rallied and pulled away leading by 11 points at the end of the third quarter.
However, in the early minutes of the fourth canto, the homegrown squad shot almost perfect to bring the score close to a 4-point differential.
MSC headcoach Rene Villanueva then called an immediate time-out.
Off the break, the squad rallied and totally pulled away with 26 points lead to end the ballgame at 120-93.
Gabihan was handpicked as the "Most Valuable Player" after his all-out performance throughout the match.
MSC was managed by village head Jacinto Torres and son J Marie Alvin Torres.
Completing the squad were Jay Dayot, Benjo Osorio, Zyrus Bustillo, Cesar Linaja, Archie Capangyarihan, Roy Rivera, Joeven Sasi, Estilles Circle and Jornyll Catanyag.
The tournament was made possible through the effort of Barangay Ma-ao councilman Boots Espeleta.
(January 4, 2005 issue)
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