Con-Air Yogi Warriors top NMR-1 Eagles caging
CON-Air Yogi’s Red Warriors played as a team to defeat Dads Uy’s Green Archers, 64-57 and snared the inaugural crown of the NMR-1 Eagles Governor’s Cup intercolor basketball tourney on Wednesday night at Pilgrim Christian College (PCC) gym here.
The Warriors, who entered the final as the topseed, waxed hot early with the starting five of Rex Armojallas, Clifford Comandante, Arvin Monterona, Waway Arocha and playingcoach `Stev Panaz’ Salgados overwhelming the Green Archers with a 21-6 first quarter lead.
But when the 6-foot3 EJ Naliponguit joined forces with Wyndel Relevo, Ayok Pablero and Richard Alcover, the Green Archers took control in the second and third quarters and came to within seven, 43-50 at the start of the fourth and final quarter.
It was a different story, however, in the payoff period as the determined charges of Anjun Gomez and Yogi Hembrador welladjusted on defense with Armojallas, Comandante and Waway combining for 14 points to keep the Archers at bay.
“The first quarter of the ballgame had really upset us kay dako ang biya. With Naliponguit around, we intend to finish the second quarter by rout pero makabalos-balos sa score si Kuya Balong (Mabalot). And in the third, nagpadayon ang mga smooth jumpers ni Kuya Clifford (Comandante). Milagro, pang MVP sab iyang tirada,” compliments Relevo, who scored 14 to Waway’s 12 in their own match-up.
Comandante and Armojallas sizzled for 14 and 13 points each, though it was the Red Warriors’ first quarter effort that led the Green Archers into serious trouble.
The sweet-shooting Naliponguit undermined the aggressive defense alternately put on him by Charlie `Batista’ Butron and Agapito `Bato’ Mercado to lead the Archers with 17 points, including 9 from the 3-point arc.
“Taas pero adtong niwang pa outside shooter gyod si Naliponguit during his varsity days. Karon lang siya na-sentro nga nidako,” added Relevo.
In the first game, Romul’s Blue Marlins crushed Kagay’s Black Panthers, 83-66 in the battle for third place.
Khoymag’s Macapayag and Arjay Aquino spearheaded the Marlins’ victory with 22 and 19 markers apiece as the streak-shooting Jezzrel Saraus added 15 all converted from the rainbow sphere.
Kagay’s Black Panthers got 20 and 17 points from Galmer Taban and Mario Bale, respectively.