STI 10th Basketball Showdown Champions
STI College Santa Rosa
Three Years ago STI College Santa Rosa barged to the finals only to lose to then eventual champion DLS-STI, the year after they again lost but almost made it all the way. The negative results in those years were on the back of the minds of the STI College Santa Rosa team as they toiled hard to improve and get another chance to win the title. That opportunity came once again was translated into a positive outcome as STI College Santa Rosa exploited the fourth quarter meltdown of STI College Quezon Avenue to score an emotional 76 – 72 win and pocket the STI 10th Basketball Showdown title. For his heads up play and consistency all throughout the tournament, Winston Balmaceda came up with the clutch hits for two games and was later on voted as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Ferrer carried the load for STI College Santa Rosa
STI College Quezon Avenue controlled the game early on specially in the first quarter. Macky Macabasco started things rolling for the Quezon City squad as he opened the quarter with five points on a three pointer and a lay up off a steal. In a wink of an eye Team Quezon Avenue was up 12 -7. ON the other hand, Santa Rosa veteran point guard Winston Balmaceda countered with his nifty plays, playmaking and scoring as he put his Laguna closer 11- 12 with still four minutes left. Team Quezon Ave unveiled two players who were non factors in game 1, Three point specialist Rogie Trunio who skipped game 1 for personal reasons and veteran Socrates Bohol who scored 5 first quarter points enroute to a 10 point game. Team Quezon Avenue took the first quarter with a hard earned 21 – 15 lead.
Tournament MVP
WInston Balmaceda
showing what stuff he is made of
Team Quezon Avenue continued its brilliance by opening the quarter with a 6 – 2 run which was predicated on a three pointer by Rogie Trunio and a steal for a fastbreak by Raymark Sarmiento. At this point Team Quezon Avenue was already in command and was threatening to blow the game wide open with a 27 – 17 lead with six minutes left on the clock. Not to be outdone, Team Santa Rosa tightened their defense as Armando Ferrer and John Batisan scored to cut down the Quezon avenue lead. As if playing like there is no tomorrow, Winston Balmaceda upped his ante and connected on two booming three pointers to close the quarter and complete a paralyzing 14 -2 Santa Rosa run to end the half ahead 31 -29.
Vasallo for two
Team Quezon Avenue scored only two points in the last five minutes of the first half and allowed Team Santa Rosa to get back. At the start of the third canto, Team Quezon Avenue started the quarter with an 11 - 7 run to get the upperhand 40 – 38 and seize the momentum. Unfortunately for them when STI College Santa Rosa was on a rut they turned to one person – Winston Balmaceda who sank back to back triples to give them back the lead 44 – 40 with six minutes left. Raymark Sarmiento then put matters into his own hands as he rattled off four consecutive points to tie the score at 44 – all. Both teams would battle on equal footing with Team Santa Rosa getting the upperhand 55-51 when the third quarter ended.
for the lead
By the 4th quarter it was now or never for Team Quezon Avenue as Mr. Fourth Quarter Raymark Sarmiento opened the quarter with a three pointer to inch closer to Team Santa Rosa 54-55. Both teams then battled through five tied scores with the last one at 66 – all with 2:23 to go in the fourth quarter. William Vasallo put Team QA finally on top 67 -66 after sinking one of two free throws, Salamat on the other hand answered with a jumper to put Santa Rosa back to the driver's seat with a slim one point lead which was taken back by Team QA on a drive by Macky Macabasco, this put Team QA on top 69 - 68. Team Santa Rosa then sued for time with 1:21 to go in the ballgame. That respite proved to be the turning point of the game as Team Santa Rosa closed the game with a fiery 8 – 3 wind up that saw Ferrer score on an alley hoop. In the return play William Vasallo missed on a jumper which Team Santa Rosa took advantage by scoring through a John Batisan lay up. After two more missed opportunities by Team QA, Armando Ferrer and Aries Santos broke the hearts of the Quezon Avenue fans as they both scored on a lay up which put Team Santa Rosa comfortably ahead 76 – 69 which resulted in their bench celebrating the victory.
A handful
Team Santa Rosa showed that losing back then was an experience that made them stronger as it gave their team enough will power to carry on as they used those debacles as an inspiration to work hard to come out on top! That hard work has definitely paid off for team Santa Rosa as their determination resulted in their best win ever – the STI 10th Basketball Showdown title. Team Quezon Avenue has nothing to be ashamed of as they proved to be worthy adversaries of Team Santa Rosa. The struggle of the champions made this victory much more sweeter. Congratulations to STI College Santa Rosa.
Sarmiento for two
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