DLS-STI makes it 5 in a row

After pocketing the 9th STI Basketball Showdown Title, the DLS-STI E.Rodriguez dribblers cemented its legacy in STI basketball by being the only 5 time champion in its 9 year history. You can add STI College Balagtas to the that they have beaten in the championship as STI College Recto, STI College Sta. Rosa and Balagtas seem to have no answer to the championship poise and composure of this E. Rodriguez squad.  DLS-STI got the title with a 73-66 win over the only unbeaten team, STI College Balagtas.

The DLS-STI team pounded on one weakness that the Balagtas cagers had which is their inexperience in big games. DLS-STI exploited it to the hilt as their championship poise and experience showed the way. DLS-STI played methodiacally and with lots of poise which made their oppponents shiver at the sight of the suffocating defense of the squad from E.Rodriguez.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the first minute of the game, the Balagtas cagers suddenly found it hard to puncture the hoops as the DLS-STI defense tightened up and their offense went to full force as they immediately took a 12-2 lead. The Balagtas team's inexperience showed as they missed 8 free throws while forward Ryan Pangilinan showed the way as their only offensive option.  The first quarter ended with the defending champions on top 20-7.  

DLS-STI came alive in the early minutes as their defense and offense were all in sync as they erected a 37-17 lead with 5 minutes left in the game. Then the STI College Balagtas team had enough as they unleashed their vaunted halfcourt defense to erase that 20 point lead and end the half only behind by 6 33-39.

Big things come in small packages, Mark Gochingco was the sparkplug that DLS-STI needed as the dimunitive guard exploded for a career high 22 points with most of them coming off fastbreaks. Gochingco scored the first 6 points of the game and there was no stopping him since he was the recepient of many fastbreak plays. The STI College Balagtas team never took the lead as their last stand was a 55-all tie with 4 minutes to go. 

It was a sorry loss for the STI College Balagtas team as they missed at least more than 15 free throws and was very tentative all throughout.  Four DLS-STI players fouled out while only one graduated for the Balagtas team.  It was the fifth consecutive title of DLS-STI as their center Archie Olmedo was named tournament MVP as he led the resurgence of this DLS-STI team after losing their first two games. Congratulations to DLS-STI.

The SCores

DLS-STI (73)

Gochingco 22, Escubio 10, Olmedo 9, Managabat 9, Galang 8, Fernandez 6, Casio 5, Tan 2, Boncan 2, Nufable 0, 

STI COLLEGE BALAGTAS (67)

Pangilinan 16, Yee Jr. 14, Ablaza 9 Villadoz 8, dela Cruz 8, Pascual 6, Querubin 4, Cruz 2, Somontina 0, Baliclic 0,

Quarterscores : 20-7, 39-33, 55-51, 73-67