HARDLY noticed in the first round against COC, former Letran Knights pointguard LJ Aquino recovered just in time for the championship round.
Aquino’s 14 points and 12 assists easily fueled the SPC Sharks to a 86-80 win over the XU Crusaders and captured the P30,000 top purse and championship trophy of the 2nd Barangay Kapitan Romeo Bacarro and Tablon Council Inter-Collegiate Invitational basketball tournament concluded here on Saturday night at Barangay Tablon’s mini gym.
Incoming SPC varsity regular Mark Louie Labares, who scored the winning basket against the Cagayan de Oro College Scorpions with just 2.3 seconds left off Lee Van Orig’s perfect assists —two nights ago— paced the Sharks with 20 points, 11 of them in the decisive fourth when the Crusaders lost steam in the face of SPC’s shackling defense.
“Wala gayu’y bout. Lupig `mi sa experience,” acknowledged Xavier University coach Rocky Calingin.
XU’s two ‘local imports’ Johnrey Manatad and Joel Sollano got away with 24 and 10 points each to go along with the productive 19 and 18 markers by the rookie pair of Glenn Gallardo and Loloy Pabito. But the SPC’s effort in limiting Sollano’s backcourt play eventually took its toll on the Crusaders’ upset bid against the defending Cagayan de Oro-PCCL champion.
“It’s just closing the lanes for Sollano for us to win the ballgame. Everytime mangayo siya’g screen sa taas we immediately attacked him with double-team defense,” shared SPC coach Rey-Kris Dangcal, himself a promising Letran Knights guard before he met a near-fatal road accident back home.
Asked of SPC’s secret formula to success, the wheelchair-bound Dangcal quickly implored that “victory loves preparation” in undermining luck or `tsamba’.
“We came here (Tablon hoopfest) well-prepared. Moadto gyod sa practice ang mga bata. Kay ang coach nga naka-wheelchair makatunga gani sila pa nga adunay tiil. Maayo sab ang support sa school nia kauban namo permi sa dula,” referring to SPC sports coordinator, Kuya Marcelo Reambonanza.
Aquino’s fine passing play that set the tone for the troika of Redentor Estrella, Emmanuel Akut and Paul Abejuela to come up with a combined 35, copped his second MVP trophy worth P5,000 since leading the SPC Sharks to the local PCCL championship win last year at the MUST gym here.
“Wala ko nag-mind sa score pero iyang assist akong gi-ihap twelve (12) tanan,” quipped Aquino’s ballclub buddy Marvelous Neri.
“SPC’s Labares was magnificent in Tablon, though Aquino made the difference in the finals kay kon dili ma-iskor mapasa man gud n’ya ang bola,” commented veteran referee Dindo Escobido.
In the battle for third place, the COC Scorpions of coach Raymond Mercader decided to play without 6-foot-10 African center Quintin ‘Suchi’ Luzoladio. But they found little trouble in besting the Liceo Titans of coach Boyet Noble, 86-78 that played with just one pointguard against the reigning Cagayan de Oro Schools Athletic Association (Cosaa) titlist.
In the absence of Francis Gio Duo, his backcourt partner Paul Anthony Reyes managed 13 points, but committed several turnovers due to exhaustion.
“Nag all-Filipino na lang `mi unsaon among negro talagsa ra motunga sa practice,” said Mercader, a one-time recipient of the Junior NBA coach that earned him a ticket to the NBA Games in the US.
Streak-shooting Ken Villarosa torched the Titans with a barrage of treys to finish the game with 25 points.
At the break, Mercader’s high-leaping ward Villaruel won the slamdunk contest to go home P3,000-richer.
“Naa may ulahi nga nag-pledge. So kami (Tablon sports chair, Kagawad Bobby Jacutin and company) nagdugang og papremyo sa MVP and slamdunk contest,” said Barangay Tablon chair Romeo Bacarro, who powered anew the Tablon Ballclub to a 97-85 victory over the MOR-ABS-CBN team in their exhibition match.
Completing SPC’s winning roster are Shawn Recabo, Agustin Patlunag, Ruel Ipanag, Harvey Alvarez, Longlong Daitol, Jeron Ello and Ayag.
Kagawad Jacutin joined Kapitan Bacarro in the awards rites, giving vice champion XU Crusaders P20,000, third-running COC Scorpions P15,000 and fourth-placer Liceo Titans P10,000 plus elegant trophies.
How they scored:
First game
Tablon Ballclub 97 — Kapitan Bacarro 13, Escultor 12, Cuizon 10, Ceniza 8, Macalam 6, Tabasan 6, Battad 6, Yare 4, Caare 2, Ibaya 2, Calape 2, Tanjay 1, Leuterio 0, Castro 0.
MOR-ABS-CBN 85 — Daculiat 30, Pagalan 25, Luperte 10, Nolasco 8, Del Mar 7, Esin 2, Kulas 0, Wisdax 0, Dela Peña 0, Mercado 0.
Second game
COC-Phinma 86 — Villarosa 25, Quiambao 18, Maghinay 9, Peralta 9, Villaruel 8, Precillas 6, Torres 5, Enojardo 2, Vergabera 2, Coming 0, Jumawan 0, Antonio 0, Manalo 0.
LdeCU Titans 78 — Odchimar 21, Reyes 13, Morales 13, Tuballa 10, Flores 7, Macalong 6, Gamos 3, Quintos 3, Ebrahim 2, Tagapulot 0.
Third game
SPC Sharks 86 — Labares 20, Aquino 14, Estrella 12, Akut 12, Abejuela 11, Orig 8, Recabo 5, Ipanag 4, Alvarez 2, Patlunag 0, Daitol 0, Ello 0, Buaorao 0.
XU Crusaders 80 — Manatad 24, Gallardo 19, Pabito 18, Sollano 10, Sabal A. 3, Raluto 2, Paza 0, Sabal I. 0, Flores 0, Jao-Jao 0, Paquit 0, Lagbas 0.