Dan Recto scores on a floater
A very popular basketball cliché “Defense
wins championships” has been the calling card of STI College Balagtas’ campaign
this school year. After skipping the 2016 – 2017 season, the team from Bulacan
has rebuilt their program, rebooted their players and more importantly
rekindled their commitment to relentless defense. Known as the Thunders in
Bulacan, the team from Balagtas had a sluggish start and had a hard time
fending off the spirited stand of the NBT Mindanao Champions STI College
Koronadal.
A gem of a move by Jewel Policarpio
STI College Koronadal is one of five
teams who entered the National Finals undefeated – the other four are Santa Rosa,
Global City, West Negros and the team they are facing STI College Balagtas. Out
to regain Mindanao basketball glory, the team from South Cotabato started off
with veterans Bearnard Caguisano Jr. . Patrick Palmes and Ricardo Castillo Jr. All
three gunners scored three points each to give the Mindanaoans an early 9 – 0 lead
in the first three minutes of the game as the team from Bulacan was in total
disarray.
Another Koronadal jumper
After getting their feet wet in the
first few minutes, a thunderous comeback was in effect as the STI College
Balagtas team roared back as they addressed their over-eagerness to play
physical and uncorked a 12 – 5 run to get back in the game after one quarter.
Graduating forward Oraye scores
In the second quarter, STI College
Balagtas once again renewed their commitment to defense and as a result their
offense flourished. Team Balagtas employed their paralyzing and very physical
full-court pressure defense that stymied the Koronadal offense. The Mindanao
champs managed to score only 7 points in that quarter and had many turnovers that
Team Balagtas translated to fastbreak points that netted them 23 second quarter
points and a commanding 35 -21 halftime lead.
The sticky Koronadal Defense
STI College Koronadal tried to stage a
comeback in the second half but unfortunately for them, the Team from Bulacan went
berserk as they scattered 32 third quarter points and limited the southern team
to just 9 points. This eventually broke the backs of the Mindanaoans that made
the fourth quarter moot and academic. There was no stopping the avalanche of
points that the Bulakeños unleashed and the disruption of the Koronadal offense
that scored just 9 third quarter points.
Bernard Caguisano Jr. shows his shooting form
Graduating forward Angelito Oraye led
all scorers with 14 points as he led his team in points and energized their heads
up play. Ably backing him up is graduating center Jewel Policarpio who had a
double – double of 12 points and 14 rebounds. Grade 11 speedy guard Johnray
Agustin and second year forward Cayle Plastina also scored in double figures as
the two chipped in 12 and 11 points respectively. Look for more good news for
the Team from Bulacan.
Cayle Plastina scores on this floater
The view the complete statistics of this game please go to this link:
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