PLAYING in the name of God, the Stronghold Insurance Bible study Group hoopsters are looking forward to strut their wares in the Talakag District Sportsfest of the Assemblies of God this coming October.
The Stronghold Believers of team-playing coach Rey Leandro Asuncion and regional manager Laarni Pearl Pearson just won their back-to-back title in the Norcemin (North Central Mindanao) District Sportsfest held recently at the Nazareth gym in Cagayan de Oro.
“Although knockout ang format, medyo easy ang paglatas sa elimination round. Pero tungason sa semis and matawag nga milagro ang pagdaug sa finals. Dili siguro gusto ni Lord nga mapilde kay na-overcome man gihapon namo ang team ni Pastor Rendon nga usa ka former MBA player nga scoring machine gihapon,” the 67-year-old 3-point specialist Asuncion said in jest.
It was truly the most difficult championship win by Stronghold in two years against the same opponent from North District team covering the areas of Puerto, Bugo and Agusan among other city barangays after a close fight with Kisolon, Bukidnon District in the semifinals.
The fivesome of Junex Ternate, Totsie Daitol, Cecilio Macapayag, Paul Selda and Nofrance Solidum were quite prolific in the early round matches. But they badly needed the youthful enthusiasm of Marlon James Daitol and Agustin Patlunag in the finals opposite the youth-laden North District.
A neck-to-neck battle ensued right from the opening salvo. The Believers were always in fighting form, but the North District gunners converted more baskets from outside, including a huge 3-point basket that gave them the lead, 60-57 in the last 8 seconds of play of the fourth and final quarter.
With no timeout left for both teams, point guard MJ Daitol managed to have the inbound pass. And with no pressure defense coming, Daitol did not hesitate to fire a trey that slightly touched the glide of the rim for a 60-all deadlock. There was no stopping Daitol from there on.
Gaining confidence from his first attempt off the rainbow sphere, Daitol sank two more from afar that set the tone for the Stronghold’s lopsided finish in the overtime period, 73-63.
“Dako’g tabang ang pani-udto nga gi-andam ni Maca. Nabalikan ra sa kusog kay punga kaayo nga tournament. Blessing pud kayo ang fellowship sa church after the championship game,” said the bull-strong Selda, Stronghold’s leading scorer in the Assembly of God’s one-day league.
Also contributing to Stronghold’s triumphant finish are Boy Quirante, Doydoy Yamson, Fred Pimentel, Charles Patrick Go, Emmanuel Mugot and the small but terrible pair of Rey-As and Stev Panaz.