Thursday, November 30, 2006 Red, Blue win over cage rivals
DEFENDING champion Red on Tuesday forced a decision with Black, even as Blue left nothing to chance hammering out a 102-92 win over White to advance first in the final of the Club 92 Inter-Color basketball tournament here at Macasandig covered court.
The Red Dragons locked horns with the top semis round qualifier with only seven players available, but they showed too much grit and spunk to reduce the odds to a no-tomorrow contest via a 85-77 finish.
"The thing is kumpiyansa ra gyod kaayo ta. Dugay man gud nasugdan ang dula kay kulang sila. Now, we're in equal ground with them in terms of hungriness to win kay nawala na atong "twice-to-beat" advantage," said playing-coach Andy Calingin as the wounded Spiders go for the pivotal match 7 p.m. Thursday at same venue.
Red did not mind playing the first two quarters with only five of them in uniforms as the Dragons managed to level the score, 34-all, at the half.
Then came last conference's MVP Roderick Pacturan and the pesky Jomar Echalico as Red further more displayed a courageous stance in the third quarter.
Red's two-guard rotation anchored by Menciano and Jomar had set the tone for Celiz, Hermida, Celdran, Pacturan and Caamiño to join in a balanced scoring spree.
"Sa ibabaw nabanatan pag-ayo ang Black labi na nga timbang kaayo si Jomar kang Menciano. Gamay kaayo nga bata (Jomar) pero smart mo-operate sa backcourt," said Anton Pabillore whose Starmaker Fireworks-backed Panthers.
