IT WAS just an exhibition game as preliminary to the exciting 2019 Mindanao Youth Basketball League (MYBL) on Sunday at the Corpus Christi gym, but it showed the character and attitude of Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno and his troopers before the appreciative crowd mostly composed of hoop parents and high school and elementary students.
Moreno and his City Hall's White Team, reinforced by former PBA coach Ryan Gregorio, seemed heading to a clear win with a 12-point lead, entering the payoff period.
And that was not surprising as City Hall's Dark Team of playing coaches Jaymar Rivera and Jun Rosal were obviously the underdog as Moreno's 39-under side of the team were fronted by the powerhouse five-some of Jun Daanoy, Bodie Tamparong, LJ Aquino, Elmor del Puerto and Pao Villar.
Tamparong's floaters, Aquino's fastbreaks and Gregorio's 3-pointer in the pivotal third quarter appeared like a dagger to end up the opposing team's struggle.
But in the homestretch, featuring the 50-above court combatants, the "wind of change" buffeted the wooden hard court and the awe-struck local cage fans with the small but terrible Cyrus Diango leading the charge.
As Bobby Diaz hit a trey and Arnel Acaylar and Charome Marte each nailed a jumper, two crucial inbound plays by Pinggoy Castro and Moreno to civic star center Erwin "Bodo" Raagas were both intercepted and converted by the fast-breaking Diango.
Team White was still up by two, but two more court-to-court layups by Diango off hustle plays eventually completed a sudden reversal of fortune, 89-87.
"Grabe nga bata (Diango) walay patawad mo-hustle gyod og depensa kang Mayor. Iyang body bump sab ang nakapa-stepping kang Allan Enteria nga nadaut and dula na airball sa tres after a strong drive basket against Diaz. Mora'g mapotbol na siya ugma sa City Hall," one joke hollered, overheard from the audience.
The streak-shooting Diaz and the "Amazing" Marte were supposed to play for their original team, the White squad of Mayor Moreno and coach Along Ebalang that missed the services of 3-point assassins in Gitagum Mayor Emmanuel Mugot and Babart Acaylar.
"Pero ambot for the first time, nagpa trade ming Bobby D nga sa Dark Team mi modula. Mora'g curse, gaka-jinx gyod si Bodo (Raagas) basta kami ang mag-agbat since the Oro Bankers pa nga time. Happy sab 'mi nga gi-congrats ni coach Ryan (Gregorio, formerly with PBA's Meralco Bolts and Gilas Pilipinas) nga patsada kaayo ang dula pero wala nakabalik sa endgame stretch," shared Marte in good-natured ribbings with courtside friends after the exciting match-up.
Asked what might be the feelings of Moreno about their heartbreaking loss, Charome Marte has this to say: "Sports ra kaayo na si Mayor kay love suportado niya ang basketball. Pero bisan kinsa na player labi na kay daghan ang nanan-aw, secretly ga dibdibon gihapon niya na nga kapeldihan."