STI College Koronadal bring down defending champs in overtime

Bernard Caguisano Jr. scores on this jumper

STI College Koronadal brought down defending champion STI College Global City 74 – 71 in overtime and virtually ousted the champs from defending their crown this year.  Bernard Caguisano scored the marginal three pointer with 1:15 left in the extra period that put a dagger in the title retention bid of the Global City squad. Sean Morte eventually sealed the win with two free throws after the Koronadal team got the loose ball from the two missed free throws of Caguisano. 

Raymond Veluz scores on the lay-up

Raymond Veluz opened up the scoring by putting the Global City squad ahead 5 – 0 as he scored on a lay-up and a three pointer. After making it a 6 – 2 lead for Global City, Norman Puerto, Kenneth Libdan and Ricardo Castillo would then counter with a 10 – 2 blast to take a four point lead 12 – 8 which eventually had the Global City squad take a time out to break the Mindanaoan’s momentum. Both teams exchanged baskets and when the first quarter buzzer sounded they were both back to square one with an 18 – all deadlock.

The vastly improved Kenneth Libdan cans this jumper

At the start of the second quarter STI College Koronadal went to Bernard Caguisano Jr., Norman Puerto and Glenn Sulit right away to erect an 8 point lead 26 – 18 as the hapless Global City squad could not buy a basket. Mike Sampurna eventually got the Taguig based Global City team on the board as he socred five consecutive points via  a three pointer at the 5:34mark and two more free throws in the next play to cut the Koronadal lead to three 23 – 26 with 5 minutes and 10 seconds to go. After exchanging baskets and having a 34 – 30 lead, Glenn Sulit would beat the buzzer and sink a three pointer to give the South Cotabato quintet a seven point cushion, 37 – 30, going to the halftime break.

Mike Sampurna squeezes in for 2 points

Mike Sampurna and Shawn Sabordo scored back to back baskets to start off the third quarter with the defending champions cutting the Koronadal lead 35 – 38. Unfortunately for them, Bernard Caguisano Jr. then went to work and combined with Cris Valencia to open up a ten point lead for the Koronadal team 45 – 35. After a Jeanssen Pangilinan basket, Valencia and Sean Morte would silence the Global City team by conniving on an 8 – 2 blast to give the South Cotabato quintet its biggest lead at 55 – 37 that prompted Coach Paulo Rosales of Global City to call a timeout. The quarter ended with the Mindanao champs leading the defending champions 57 – 41.

Jeanssen Pangilinan scores off a turnaround

The fourth quarter saw the Global City squad of old as team from Taguig tightened their defense and put their offense on overdrive.  Kley Lumelay ignited their fourth quarter rally by scoring back to back three pointers to bring them closer. Bernard Caguisano Jr. would answer with his own three pointer to give them added cushion going to the last six minutes. After Norman Puerto put the Koronadal team ahead 68 – 53 with 5:30 left, Global City would make the Koronadal team settle for jumpers that missed, the defending champs came back to life by going on a 15 – 0 tear capped by Kley Lumelay’s three pointer that tied the score at 68 – all with 23 seconds left in the game. Norman Puerto would then miss out on a potential game winner that sent the game to overtime.

The dagger three by Bernard Caguisano Jr. 

In overtime, Bernard Caguisano Jr. scored five points including the cold blooded dagger three that broke the hearts of the defending champions. The defending champs came back from 16 points yesterday to seal the win but failed to do so this time around. STI College Koronadal will then face STI College Las Pinas and the winner will eventually enter the final four of this one week national finals.

Norman Puerto drives to the basket

The Scores:

STI COLLEGE KORONADAL (77)

B. Caguisano Jr. 27, Puerto 11, Morte 7, Famulag 6, Libdan 6, Valencia 6, Ignacio 5, Sulit 5, Castillo Jr. 2, Soliva 2, Lopez 1, Caguisano J. 0,

STI COLLEGE GLOBAL CITY (74)

Lumelay 15, Pangilinan 13, Sampurna 13, Sabordo 11, Veluz 11, Manzano 9, Baldoza 2, Pagulayan 0, Cudal 0, Madronero 0

Quarter scores: 18 – all, 37 – 30, 57 – 41, 68 – all, 77 - 71