Blue Eagles clinch basketball title in IPSA Sportsfest

ALKHOBAR: IPSA Blue Eagles won their second basketball championship crown in the IPSA 6th Annual Sportsfest after a 89-87 victory over gritty White Panthers last Friday before a good crowd at International Philippine School in Al-khobar (IPSA) gym.

The Blue Eagles unleashed a strong 4th quarter surge on their way to the hard-earned victory. The strong combination of amateur and collegiate standouts Drin Simpas ( ex- PBL, Lyceum varsity) and unstoppable Efren Valencia (EAC varsity and PYBL selection) along with veteran and 3-point artist Teng Avila, headstrong play of Carlo Algerre, the strong defense and timely basket of Rey Panaga and Ronald Villanueva, the smart plays of rookies Ervin Gesmundo and Van Diputado made the difference for the Eagles.

This was the title for the Blue Eagles having won the championship in 2009. They were runners-up in 2010. Eagles coaching staff Ernie Biscocho, Alvin Quijano and Mark Alisuag were satisfied with the result despite the under- manned lineup and cited the total team effort and the players’ strong motivation to win the championship.

The Blue Eagles turned to front-runner MVPS Efren Valencia and Simpas in the third and fourth period for offense to open a 54-51 lead after the Panthers led by just two points at halftime after a series of deadlocks courtesy of the rejuvenated Mar Velarde, who made 3 consecutive treys and the inspired play by Sherman Mendiola, Ervin Bayona and Dennis Cristobal and the timely penetration by Hubert Ocampo.

The Eagles, behind the strength of Simpas whose rebounds and blocked shots created scoring opportunities for Valencia, Diputado, Algerre, Avila, came back roaring and took advantage of the Panthers penalty situation in the dying minutes and even took the lead on a free throw by Ervin Gesmundo, with 37 seconds left, after getting fouled on his big rebound.

Mendiola of the Panthers, a reliable shooter from the stripe, muffed his two charities that could have tie the game in the crucial minutes of the game. But the Eagles responded again with two free- throws from Valencia that mattered most to seal the game’s outcome at 89-87 and virtually clinch the championship with 7 seconds to go.

It was a see-saw battle in the third and fourth quarters and the Panthers even took the lead a number of times with three minutes left and had several chances to come closer down the stretch but blew it on open shots and the fouling out of John Mateo and Ocampo.

Also, the Blue Eagles added the darts and bowling title. Their dart team defeated Yellow Vikings for the crown.

Team coordinators Rez Paz and Ernie Biscocho added that it was the full support of all the team members and the cheers of other teams that inspired the players to play smartly and aggressively.

Run by Commissioner Mohammed Zain Ho and Tournament Director Ricky Piguing with the support of school management the sportsfest is an annual event exclusively for all IPSA parents, faculties