STI College Santa Rosa wins STI Showdown title!

STI 10th Basketball Showdown Champions

STI College Santa Rosa

Three Years ago STI College Santa Rosa barged to the finals only to lose to then eventual champion DLS-STI, the year after they again lost but almost made it all the way. The negative results in those years were on the back of the minds of the STI College Santa Rosa team as they toiled hard to improve and get another chance to win the title. That opportunity came once again was translated into a positive outcome as STI College Santa Rosa exploited the fourth quarter meltdown of STI College Quezon Avenue to score an emotional 76 – 72 win and pocket the STI 10^th Basketball Showdown title. For his heads up play and consistency all throughout the tournament, Winston Balmaceda came up with the clutch hits for two games and was later on voted as the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Ferrer carried the load for STI College Santa Rosa

STI College Quezon Avenue controlled the game early on specially in the first quarter. Macky Macabasco started things rolling for the Quezon City squad as he opened the quarter with five points on a three pointer and a lay up off a steal. In a wink of an eye Team Quezon Avenue was up 12 -7. ON the other hand, Santa Rosa veteran point guard Winston Balmaceda countered with his nifty plays, playmaking and scoring as he put his Laguna closer 11- 12 with still four minutes left. Team Quezon Ave unveiled two players who were non factors in game 1, Three point specialist Rogie Trunio who skipped game 1 for personal reasons and veteran Socrates Bohol who scored 5 first quarter points enroute to a 10 point game. Team Quezon Avenue took the first quarter with a hard earned 21 – 15 lead.

Tournament MVP

WInston Balmaceda

showing what stuff he is made of

Team Quezon Avenue continued its brilliance by opening the quarter with a 6 – 2 run which was predicated on a three pointer by Rogie Trunio and a steal for a fastbreak by Raymark Sarmiento. At this point Team Quezon Avenue was already in command and was threatening to blow the game wide open with a 27 – 17 lead with six minutes left on the clock. Not to be outdone, Team Santa Rosa tightened their defense as Armando Ferrer and John Batisan scored to cut down the Quezon avenue lead. As if playing like there is no tomorrow, Winston Balmaceda upped his ante and connected on two booming three pointers to close the quarter and complete a paralyzing 14 -2 Santa Rosa run to end the half ahead 31 -29.

Vasallo for two

Team Quezon Avenue scored only two points in the last five minutes of the first half and allowed Team Santa Rosa to get back. At the start of the third canto, Team Quezon Avenue started the quarter with an 11 - 7 run to get the upperhand 40 – 38 and seize the momentum. Unfortunately for them when STI College Santa Rosa was on a rut they turned to one person – Winston Balmaceda who sank back to back triples to give them back the lead 44 – 40 with six minutes left. Raymark Sarmiento then put matters into his own hands as he rattled off four consecutive points to tie the score at 44 – all. Both teams would battle on equal footing with Team Santa Rosa getting the upperhand 55-51 when the third quarter ended.

for the lead

By the 4th quarter it was now or never for Team Quezon Avenue as Mr. Fourth Quarter Raymark Sarmiento opened the quarter with a three pointer to inch closer to Team Santa Rosa 54-55. Both teams then battled through five tied scores with the last one at 66 – all with 2:23 to go in the fourth quarter. William Vasallo put Team QA finally on top 67 -66 after sinking one of two free throws, Salamat on the other hand answered with a jumper to put Santa Rosa back to the driver's seat with a slim one point lead which was taken back by Team QA on a drive by Macky Macabasco, this put Team QA on top 69 - 68. Team Santa Rosa then sued for time with 1:21 to go in the ballgame. That respite proved to be the turning point of the game as Team Santa Rosa closed the game with a fiery 8 – 3 wind up that saw Ferrer score on an alley hoop. In the return play William Vasallo missed on a jumper which Team Santa Rosa took advantage by scoring through a John Batisan lay up. After two more missed opportunities by Team QA, Armando Ferrer and Aries Santos broke the hearts of the Quezon Avenue fans as they both scored on a lay up which put Team Santa Rosa comfortably ahead 76 – 69 which resulted in their bench celebrating the victory.

A handful

Team Santa Rosa showed that losing back then was an experience that made them stronger as it gave their team enough will power to carry on as they used those debacles as an inspiration to work hard to come out on top! That hard work has definitely paid off for team Santa Rosa as their determination resulted in their best win ever – the STI 10^th Basketball Showdown title. Team Quezon Avenue has nothing to be ashamed of as they proved to be worthy adversaries of Team Santa Rosa. The struggle of the champions made this victory much more sweeter. Congratulations to STI College Santa Rosa.

Sarmiento for two

15th NYC in Naga City

The STI Naga Dancers

Yours truly dancing

with a swollen ankle

Princess Cruz on

the Innovate Topic

Pido Aguilar as usual with the

Influence Topic

Ricky Bunag tackles the

Interact topic

Guest star Neil Coleta

NAGA RESTO 1: Red Platter restaurant

EASY TO LOCATE

GREAT AMBIENCE

THE SIZZLING SQUID

SIZZLED

SALMON SOUP

SO SOOTHING

GRILLED PORK

A VERY MOUTH WATERING

EXPERIENCE

BICOL EXPRESS & LAING

SPICY BUT JUST RIGHT FOR THE BITE

AUTHENTIC BICOLANO DISH

Naga Food Scene: Triboo Grill

TRIBO GRILL IN NAGA

FILIIPINO FOOD

EASY TO FIND

THE GRILLED SQUID IS

A HOUSE SPECIALTY

KINILAW NA TANGIGUE

NEVER LEAVE HOME

WITHOUT IT

TUNA BELLY

BELLY GOOD

BICOL SPECIALTY

LAING & BICOL EXPRESS

AUTHENTIC TASTE

STI College Santa takes game 1

Team Santa Rosa takes this one

Every second counts! Tell that to the STI College Quezon Avenue basketball team as the swept the eliminations on the account of two pulsating last second finishes. If not for the clock running out on the STI College Global City team and STI College Santa Rosa, there would have not been a sweep. Unfortunately, in a close game every second really counts as Juluis Casaysayan sank a buzzer beating three pointer from way beyond the three point arc with 1.4 seconds left as the STI College Santa Rosa team beat the unbeatable STI College Quezon Avenue team 74-73.

Both teams showed excellent defense

Team Quezon Avenue started like a team on a purpose as they took the early lead and forced Team Santa Rosa to various turnovers as they led 6 - 2. Team STa. Rosa then took a breather to address the problems they encountered and after the time out Team Santa Rosa countered with a 12-1 run to give them the upperhand 13-7 with five minutes left in the quarter.

Winston Balmaceda was shooting on all angles

Santa Rosa veteran pointguard Winston Balmaceda was firing on all ends as he scattered 12 first half points as he sank three three - pointers and always doused cold water everytime Team Quezon Ave would stage a rally. On the other hand, it was 5^th season MVP William Vasallo who carried the fight for the Quezon city based squad as he scored 15 first half points as his booming three pointers kept them in the fight. After Team Santa Rosa dictated the majority of the second quarter, Team Quezon avenue came to life and equalized the score at 35 – all with two minutes left.

Macky Macabasco anchors 3rd Qtr QA run

Team Quezon Avenue’s offense and defense eventually clicked by the third quarter as they were firing on almost all ends while Team Santa Rosa was very erratic and fell in a maze of errors. Staring at a 43-44 deficit with 7 minutes left in the quarter, Team Quezon Avenue uncorked a paralyzing 18 – 6 bomb that was presided by former Olympian Macky Macbasco. Team QA was playing perfect basketball as they forced Santa Rosa to fumble, take bad shots, get the rebounds, run and convert on the fastbreak. At the end of the third quarter Quezon avenue was on top 61 – 50 and a game one win was in their grasp.

Interesting match up of

William Vasallo and John Batisan

Team Santa Rosa is now on its fourth finals and is not about to give up the game on a silver platter. Summoning their vast championship experience that gave them numerous titles in various leagues the past four years, Team Santa Rosa came back through sheer defensive intensity and hustle. Their rotating 2 – 3 man zone forced Team QA to take bad shots which they translated to fastbreak points. In a span of four minutes the Team QA lead vanished as Team Santa Rosa’s zone kept them from operating their one-on-one plays and effective weaving offense. Juluis Casaysayan scored on a lay up and was fouled by Ervin Magistrado which he converted to level up the score 61-all. From thereon Team Santa Rosa got the fourth quarter momentum as Team Quezon Avenue’s stars both got into a series of misfortunes and slight injuries.

Game 1 hero Juluis Casaysayan

Team Santa Rosa threatened to put the game away by getting a 68-64 lead but Team QA keeps on coming back as Paolo Zabala tied the score 70 – all on a three pointer. Team Santa Rosa scored on a free throw with 15 seconds left in the game to take a 71-70 lead as Team QA called a time out for a last second miracle. Team QA went to Macky Macabasco as he sank a three pointer to give them a 73-71 lead as time went down to 1.4 second. Juluis Casaysayan sank the game winner after. Both teams are evenly matched and as both their games ended in last second shots with both teams winning with just one point. Game two is on Wednesday and expect the game to go down the wire once again.

Ferrer scores

The Boxscores

Santa Rosa (74)

Balmaceda 14, Ferrer 11, Casaysayan 8, Salamat 8, Batisan 6, Manabat 6, Santos 5, Parala 5, Baniqued 4, Arzola 4, Cruz 3, Lacsina 0, Reyes 0, Maunahan 0, Peña 0

Quezon Ave. (73)

Vasallo 27, Magistrado 17, Macabasco 10, Sarmiento 8, Zabala 7, Untalan 2, Panganiban 2, Bilog 0, Jamero 0, Bernardino 0, Siervo 0, Bohol 0

STI College Balagtas eliminates STI College Global City

Wynald Sultan scores and is fouled

The road back to the finals for the STI College Balagtas basketball team is a long one, unfortunately they need to take that route to be able to sharpen their skills for them to get a crack at the title and be crowned champions of the STI Basketball showdown. Today, they took the first step by coming from behind once again to beat the STI College Global City team 91-84 as they served notice to the two other remaining teams that they too can come back.

Van Mamangon blocks the shot

STI College Global City started the first quarter smoking as Wynald Sultan led 7 players who scored in the first quarter points to give the home team a 28-22 lead. Sultan would score 8 points while Andrew Oyama and John Magsalos added 5 and 4 points apiece. Andrew Oyama started the second quarter with a basket while the Balagtas cagers groped for form. It was evident in the eyes of the Bulacan based cagers that they were quite tentative as they missed point blank field goals all day long. On the other hand, Magsalos presided over a 16 to 4 run that completely shattered the hearts of the Balagtas team as they can only watch in dismay as they were down by seventeen points, 50 – 33. STI College Balagtas would end the quarter with a 7 – 0 run capped by the buzzer beater of Olympian Cedric Ablaza to narrow the gap 40 – 50.

Adrian dela Cruz on the drive

In the third quarter, Team Balagtas tightened on defense as they opened the quarter with a 14 -9 tear courtesy of Cedric Ablaza seven points. Ablaza was a men among boys as he pulled down six rebounds and also had two steals to add to the woes of the Global City squad. After averaging 25 points in the first two quarters, Team Balagtas dropped the gun on Team Global City as they were limited to 16 third quarter points. On the other hand, Adrian Querubin and Albert Pepito teamed up with Ablaza to get them within striking distance 64 - 66 when the quarter ended. This time it was the Global City offense which was not in sync.

Cedric Ablaza scored 20 points

Come the fourth quarter, the Bulacan sweetened Team in Yellow improved on their lead as they opened up the quarter with an 8 -2 run. This time it was second string point guard Aaron Cruz who was at the firing end for Team Balagtas as he scored 11 points in the 4^th quarter with most of those coming off fastbreaks in the first few minutes of the quarter. Team Balagtas threatened to break the game wide open as it took a 76-68 lead on a Pepito drive. Team Global City through center Herminio Avila tried to crawl back as he scored 9 fourth quarter points with six of them coming from foul counted plays. Unfortunately, Team Balagtas through Cruz and ABlaza teamed up for a fiery wind up by the Bulakeños as they took an insurmountable 89 – 81 lead with less than 30 seconds left in the ball game. Ablaza scored 14 second half points to lead the scoring with 20 markers. Avila on the other hand led Global City with 24 points. Next stop – it will be Bulacan against Laguna in the resumption of the STI Basketball Showdown.

Aaron Cruz scored 11 4th Qtr points

The scores

BALAGTAS (91)

Ablaza 20, Pascual 13, Querubin 12, Cruz 11, A. dela Cruz 11, Pepito 10, Yee 9, Baliclic 5, Somontina 0, Macapagal 0, Villadoz 0, Crisostomo 0,

GLOBAL CITY (84)

Avila 24 , Sultan 16, Oyama 12, Magsalos 12, Sarmiento 6, Ramirez 4, de Belen 3, Mamangon 3, Saltiga 2, Cruz 2, Tabug 0, Elumba 0

Quarterscores 22-28, 40-50, 64-66, 91-84