Team Alam Na champs anew
Behind the heroics of Babiera and Neri against Team Daabay, 74-73
CRUCIAL freethrows have recently decided the season-ending conference of the 2018 Green CdeO Eagles Club inter-color basketball tournament dubbed 2nd President’s Cup at the Southern Philippine College (SPC) court here.
After missing his first attempt from the charity line with only 9 ticks left and the score tied at 73all, everything seemed froze for playmaker Marvin Luke Neri as he knew very well that this could be his last Eagles hoopfest in Cagayan de Oro while approaching life for the next decade.
In fact, the ball stays longer from Neri’s clutches when facing uncertainty. But when he managed to convert his second freethrow and Team Daabay failed to score in their last ball possession, a visibly-tensed Neri could not ask for more as he joined Team Alam Na’s on-court celebration for another title finish, 74-73.
“By January next month, I’ll be leaving the country for good to join my family in Hawaii. So, pagsipyat nako sa permiro nga freethrow..i was thinking nga makabiya ko sa Pilipinas nga peldiro in my last championship game. But thanks God tam-is kaayo iyang pamasko sa team labi na gyod sa ako,” the long-time BDO Bank reliable Neri told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro after the game.
In less than a minute left of the final fourth quarter, Team Daabay was up by two on a Shian Galanida basket. But leading MVP candidate Janjan Babiera got a timely pass while sliding from the baseline to level the score with an undergoal stab.
“We’re close to winning the ballgame pero naka-answer si Kuya Janbabs unya nag-error ‘mi after Kuya Neri hit his second freethrow attempt,” said the youthful Galanida who nearly matched Babiera’s 30-point output with his own 29.
Team Alam Na’s comanagers Anjun Gomez and Yogi Hembrador also acknowledged the brilliant effort of veteran center Rodelio ‘Loloy’ Gelogo who chipped in 10 markers on top of his usual board domination and bruising defense.
“Loygel’s best play had been seen in the final peldihonon unta ‘mi kay puro batan-on ang pikas,” a beaming Hembrador said.
Team Daabay also got 13 and 10 points each from Tarotoy Remoto and Arvin Monterona.
In the battle for third place, Team Doc Neri watched Patrick Charles Go bungled his pair of freethrow shots with time ticking away to also escape with a one-point victory over Romuls Power, 76-75.
Last-minute ‘import’ Alvarez paced Team Doc Neri with 20 points as the bull-strong Jay Buot and the streak-shooting pair of Welbourne Neri and Jojo Lim added 15 and 14 points apiece.
With Go, Daryll Timkang, Allan Vison and Stev Panaz all dishing out twin-digit numbers, Romuls Power was leading early on. But Buot almost single-handedly took charge in the final canto with a barrage of unmolested inside baskets to bring Team Dokie back in contention luckily aided by Go’s apparent miscues from the freethrow line.
Awards rites will be on Dec. 16 in time of the Green CdeO Eagles Club’s Christmas party.
The scores: Team Doc Neri 74—Alvarez 20, Buot 17, Neri 15, Lim 14, Somido 2, Yurong 0. Romulz Power
73—Go 25, Timkang 20, Vison 13, Salgados 10, Besin 3, Romulo 0. 2nd game Kuya Gomez 76—
Babiera 30, M. Neri 16, Gelogo 10, Macapayag 8, Aquino 7, J. Neri 2, Mabalot 2, Gomez 0, Paporo 0, Butron 0. Team Daabay 75—
Galanida 29, Remoto 13, Monterona 10, Mauricio 9, Cabriana 8, Gustilo 2, Asil 2.