14th STI Basketball Showdown: Global City, Fairview and Muñoz wins

Jeanssen Pangilinan goes strong to the hoop

STI College Global City finally found the right mix as it ended a gallant stand by last year’s runner up, STI College Malolos to win a tighly fought match 86 -79.  STI College Malolos played catch up the whole game and finally led with three minutes left but unfortunately faltered in the endgame to give the Taguig based Global City cagers the win.  In the other matches, STI College Muñoz showed more experience in subduing the returning STI College Cubao team 76 – 60.  The Cubao dribblers are back after a three year hiatus from the league. The second game saw another returnee, STI College Fairview beat newcomer STI College San Pablo 73 – 48.

Carlo Jimenez leaves everyone behind

The Global City and Malolos match up lived up to the billing as Team Global City finally got back at Team Malolos that beat them 2 years back to claim third place. This time, the Global City squad had six players score in double figures as their centers Arjay Napenas and Jeanssen Pangilinan controlled the middle by scoring 16 and 11 points respectively.  On the other hand, helping out veteran shooting guard Jim Lontoc who scored 14 points are the newbies namely King Carlos who added 12 markers, Mike Sampurna who had 11 points and Junard Gubat who also scored 11 points.

Arjay Napeñas floats in mid-air

The Global City team started like a house on fire as they led by as much as 16 points enroute to a 25 – 13 first quarter. The Malolos team’s offense eventually caught fire as Abram Pineda ignited a 2^nd quarter comeback that had their team catch up but at the end of the half they were 10 points away from their opponents.

Sherwin Sayo scores 

The third quarter saw a fiery STI College Malolos squad as their ace point guard Carlo Jimenez combined with Pineda to score 12 straight points on four three pointers with each of them sinking two apiece.  Jimenez was relentless on defense and unstoppable on offense as he willed his team back to life by scoring 16 third quarter points.  After three quarters the game was tied again at 65 – all as the Global City team lost focus and allowed the Bulacan based dribblers to come back.

Jim Lontoc delivers the winning basket

The fourth quarter was a seesaw battle for both teams as neither of the two teams willing to yield. With time running out for the Global City team, Jim Lontoc sank a clutch three pointer to give Global City back the lead 79 – 78. Forward John Marcelo would sink a free throw while Mike Sampurna sank a basket to give the Global City squad an 81 – 79 lead.  Unfortunately Marcelo missed a potential game tying lay-up and the Global city team capitalized on this by scoring 5 consecutive free throws, Two from Napeñas and three from Lontoc to give STI College Global City a rousing nerve wracking debut.

Mark Baloaloa scores on this basket

STI College Munoz on the other hand showed their experience as Mark Baloaloa, Cedrick Manansala, Christian Sol, John Lopez, and Kristopher de Leon took turns in scorching the net with Baloaloa topscoring with 18 points.  STI College Cubao tried to comeback but was denied by the Muñoz defense time and time again. Shooting guard Vince Bantasan led the STI College Cubao team but needed more support since Khayan Dacles was the only other player to score in double figures.

Renz Galvez scores on this strong move

STI College Fairview on the other hand showed its strength and size as it relied on the big game of big man Renz Galvez who scored 17 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked four shots. Galvez was a beast in the middle as he scored 11 first quarter points to jumpstart the campaign of the Regalado based dribblers. Aldrin Eli wowed the crowd with his terrific basketball skills and he ably supported Galvez by scoring 12 second half points to help his team get the win. Denmark Ramos and Renzon Ticzon each scored 12 points to help lead the STI College San Pablo squad.

Follow up play by Inojales

THE SCORES

GAME 1

STI COLLEGE MUÑOZ (76)

Baloaloa 18, Manansala 12, Sol 11, Lopez 10, de Leon 10, Cuadra 8, Santillan 7, Cacay  0,

STI COLLEGE CUBAO (60)

Bantasan 17, Dacles 10, Tovillo 9, Belmonte 7, Silvania 7, Cruz 6, Teologo 4, Alas 0, Ricarte 0

Quarter scores: 16 – 9, 38 – 26, 54 – 40, 76 - 60

GAME 2

STI COLLEGE FAIRVIEW (73)

Galvez 17, Eli 16, Sanggacala 8, Arangel 6, Esteban 6, Inojales 5, Cañedo 3, Colcol 2, Sales 2, Labanon 2, Avenie 2, Gustilo 2, Ontal 2, Gonzales 0, Brillantes 0

STI COLLEGE SAN PABLO (48)

Ramos 12, Ticzon 12, Faylon 8, Mendoza 8, Tiongson 4, Lambit 4, delos Santos 0, Esteban 0, Tolentino 0, Tanqueco 0, Sayo 0

Quarter scores: 22 – 12, 32 – 26, 50 – 39, 73 - 48

GAME 3

STI COLLEGE GLOBAL CITY (86)

Napeñas 16, Lontoc 14, Carlos 12, Pangilinan 11,  Sampurna 11, Gubat 11, Abuy 5, Bernal 2, Bungar 2, Delabajan 2, Norte 0, Sultan 0,

STI COLLEGE MALOLOS (79)

Jimenez 29, Pineda 17, Sayo 12, Marcelo 7, Victoria 5, Panopio 4, Gatchalian 4, Cruz 1, Bonifacio 0, Capule 0, Ecleo 0,

Quarter scores:  25 – 13, 43 – 33, 65 – 65, 86 – 79