The ‘Menaling fever’
Creating basketball euphoria in the ongoing Oro summer leagues
THEY’RE not that much popular compared to local cage standouts in Cagayan de Oro such as Jun Daanoy, Bodie Tamparong, Wellmonz Muñoz and the likes. But as far as the ongoing Summer basketball leagues around the city is concerned, there is a fast-developing `Menaling fever’ that smitten mostly the sports-loving kids among the barangaybased basketball fans.
And one could only blame the Menaling brothers, especially the older Jerome the pointguard for the great excitement being generated by the summer hoopfest in the City of Gold nowadays.
“Bahala’g gagmay sa Menaling team gihapon `mi kay kasaligan makaenjoy kaayo ilang mga moves,” one bubbling 10-year-old boy in his dirty pants was overheard as saying.
Outside college ballgames, the Menaling brothers, Jerome and Jhunrey, actually represent the Barangay Kauswagan team in any basketball tournament around and outside Cagayan de Oro.
When you hear basketball managers blurting out “napilde akong mga batos sa mga gagmay nga hingigo ug kusog managan” automatically you could say it’s probably the Menalings-powered squad as the main culprit.
In Barangay Bonbon Summer Basketball League alone where the homegrown Biongcog brothers (Boning, Buchok, Boki) used to be the all-time favorites, the Menalings (with their resiliency and never-say-die spirit) have fast become a household name too.
Against much taller and more illustrious opposition, they played consistently right from the elimination round winning games with the high-leaping Jhunry thriving on the fastbreaks and skilled dribbler Jerome lording it over with his killer perimeter jumpers and step-back dagger off the 3-point arc.
Just recently, the Kauswagan team played without starting centers Muñoz and Sevilla in the crossover round. But the Menalings and company fought brilliantly to persevere in overtime en route
matching the number of made baskets he had during Milwaukee’s double-overtime loss in Game 3. However, the Bucks star went 4 for 9 the rest of the way.
Leonard missed three of his four attempts in the first but Lowry scored 12 points for the Raptors, who rallied from an early seven-point deficit to lead 32-31 after one.
After scoring the final four points of the first quarter, the Raptors widened their lead with a 9-0 run to begin the second. Ibaka’s dunk with 9:56 to go gave Toronto a 41-31 lead.