IT WAS just an exhibition game as tribute to the late Misamis Oriental Provincial Board member Roldan Lagbas. But the one played between Rocky Calingin’s Subokin Black and Ballpals-laced Subokin White last Saturday, July 23, at the Macasandig gym in Cagayan de Oro City was never without excitement.
After Misamis Oriental Board Member Gerardo ‘Boboy’ Sabal scored from underneath to give Subokin Black a 2-point lead, pointguard Calingin stole off James Abucejo’s inbound pass to Bobby Diaz in the last 12 seconds of play en route to a come-from-behind 57-55 win.
“Sayang, wala nakompleto ang fourth-quarter rally,” later said Allan Enteria.
Subokin White struck hard midway of the third quarter that saw them leading by 7 markers when Subokin Black’s youngest player Wawang Labuntog entered the floor in the company of Charome ‘The Amazing’ Marte and Arvin Martinez that eventually changed the complexion of the ballgame.
With Labuntog piling off fastbreak points, Subokin Black built a twin-digit lead going to the fourth and final quarter when Subokin White retaliated behind the 3-point bombing of Enteria.
Enteria’s eruption and a couple of late triples by Samboy Uy and Abucejo forced a 55-all deadlock that was shattered when Sabal was left wide-open from underneath after a rebound scuffle.
“Medyo wala lang nagkasinabot sa last ball position nga pangtabla, though it was still a very exciting game lingaw gihapon nga kapildehan,” said Subokin White’s team-playing coach Joseph “Insik” Villareal.
A “boodle fight” of yummy lechon and all at the nearby place of referee Sysin “Robo-Robo” Luna capped the 3rd Death Anniversary Games of “Pangkoy” Roldan, one of the club’s founding members, who perished in a bombing incident here that remains unsolved until now.