STI NBT: STI College Santa Rosa gets first win

RJ Guerrero got the ball rolling for Santa Rosa

STI College Santa Rosa engaged STI College Caloocan in a game of defense and whoever blinks first loses. Unfortunately for STI College Caloocan, they are the ones who blinked first as their last stand in the final minutes proved to be a little bit too late as the talented Santa Rosa team proved to be steadier in the pay-off period to seal a hard earned 57 – 48 win.  The win gave the Santa Rosa team some leeway in their group since they will be facing the hottest team (STI College Balagtas) next.

Rafael Almoro scores inside

The first half was filled with in your face defense “stay home” defense for both teams with both teams bleeding for offense. Jerico Guerrero started out with a three pointer and June Aliparo added a free throw to give the Santa Rosa team a 4 – 0 start. Aliparo bled for his points in this game as the sticky defense of STI College Caloocan on all his seven three point attempts had a hand on his face which led him to sink only two three pointers the whole game.  STI College Santa Rosa led 14 – 5 in the first quarter      and 25 – 11 at the half which looked like the first quarter for if you will compare this game to the previous three games preceeding it.

Intense rebound action

The first five minutes of the third quarter saw a rejuvenated STI College Caloocan team as they started off with a 14 – 7 run to somewhat catch up at 25 – 32. Jomar Salazar waxed hot as he sank two consecutive three pointers while Sebastian Berceno added another three pointer to give life to the Caloocan offense which was sleeping in the first half.  The quarter ended with STI College Santa Rosa still up a notch 39 – 31 in a turnover filled third quarter.

Sebastian Berceno fueled the Caloocan comeback

STI College Caloocan’s last stand came in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter as they went on a 9 – 4 run to cut the 39 – 48 deficit into four 48 – 52 with 39 seconds left in the game. STI College Santa Rosa’s experience showed in the final minutes as Jestoni Hercia, Aliparo and Kent Fabic combined for the final five points to put the game away. STI College Santa Rosa will face STI College Balagtas and STI College Koronadal next to determine the top two teams in Group B of the STI National Basketball Touranament which is now in the National Finals phase.

June Aliparo had a hand on his face the whole game

STI COLLEGE SANTA ROSA (57)

Aliparo  17, Almoro 8, Guerrero  7, Hercia Jes. 6 , Fabic  6, Romualdo  3, Hercia Jer. 3, Regalado  2, Dimaranan 2, Karamihan  2, Ursabia 1, Proximo  0,

STI COLLEGE CALOOCAN (48)

Berceño 13, Salazar  8, Lazaro  6, Perez  5, Laysico  5, Patricio 5,  Flores 4, Salapong 2,  Atienza 0, Schmidt 0 , Sarmiento  0,

Quarter scores: 14 – 5, 25 – 11, 39 – 31, 57 – 48