STI College Global City escapes STI College Las Pinas 74 -71

Mike Sampurna floats in the air

Mike Sampurna sank three free throws in the final 11 seconds to seal the comeback win for the defending champions STI College Global City as they beat STI College Las Pinas 74 – 71 and escape a monumental upset during the resumption of the 2016 STI National Basketball Tournament. The Global City squad ignited a crippling 15 – 0 run in the middle of the fourth quarter to turn a 47 – 64 deficit around as they tied the score 64 – all going to the final 3 minutes of the game.

Raymund Veluz scores on a lay-up

Diminutive point guard Raymond Veluz stood tall by scoring 20 points and hauling down 14 rebounds, eight (8) on the offensive end, and getting 4 steals enroute to an another impressive all-around game to carry the defending champions once again for the win.  Center Anthony Pangilinan ably backed up Veluz as he scattered 17 points after a horrendous shooting day as he tallied 6/16 from the field (37.5%) considering most of his shots came from 5 feet of the basket.

Cris Jutie lays the ball in

Dalton Balidoy carried the fight for the Las Pinas team by scoring 23 points. Shooting guard Mark Ruallo actually topscored for the Las Pinas team as he went hot in the second half by sinking  7 three pointers with the last one to give the Las Pinas team a commanding 64 – 47 lead. Unfortunately, when STI College Global City mounted their comeback, the duo’s scoring suddenly disappeared.

Jeanssen Pangilinan scores on a lay in

STI College Global City’s poor shooting (35%) was negated by the big rebound edge they had against STI College Las Pinas 68 – 40.  Global City was threatening to blow the game wide open after leading 23 – 16 in the second quarter, unfortunately because of the pesky Las Pinas pressure defense, the southern team came back to take the upper hand in the third quarter which ended with STI College Las Pinas leading by eight 53 – 45. 

Dalton Balidoy stretches in for a two

STI College Global City used their experience to comeback in the game as their heads up defense made the rookie laden Las Pinas team to force their shots which resulted in a crippling 15 – 0 blast which was so devastating to STI College Las Pinas. STI College Global City also had 27 turnovers with Veluz and Carl Manzano getting 7 turnovers each. Their recovery was timely and puts the Global City squad on the hunt once again to defend their crown.

Mark Ruallo scores on a three pointer

The scores:

STI COLLEGE GLOBAL CITY (74)

Veluz 20, Pangilinan 17, Sampurna 13,  Sabordo 10, Manzano 9, Pagulayan 4, Cudal 1, Baldoza 0, Lumelay 0, Madronero 0

STI COLLEGE LAS PINAS (71)

Ruallo 27, Balidoy 23, Faelden 6, dela Cruz 4, Gutay 4, Pascual 4, Jutie 2, Ocampo 2, Negrido 0, Nonoyama 0, Rico 0, Vanderlipe 0

Quarterscores:  12 – 13, 26 - 25, 45 – 53, 74 – 71