D1: GK Warriors routs No Way Team, 85-58 (Open Division)

by Jun Rana / Photo by Poochie Roldan

Defending champion GK Warriors open its bid for a third straight championship in the Open Division by unloading 14 three pointers, 5 of them by Ryan De Gracia, to rout a fighting No Way (Maricas) Team, 85-58 in the opening day of the PAAD Palaro at the PAL Hockessin on June 12 (Philippine Independence Day). De Gracia finished with a game high 21 points.

It was Dustin Coloso, son of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Tim Coloso of the famous Toyota Corollas and Tamaraws who carried the fight n the first half with 12 points, including 2 three pointers. Coloso combined with Curtis Clemente who had 7 points in the first half, to put the game beyond recall 37-13, with 3 minutes remaining in the first half. Curtis Clemente, Mario Lancioni, Santini Lancioni, and Chris Clemente and Ryan De Guzman had one three pointer each in the first half, which ended 42-15 in GK’s favor.

The Warriors also displayed its tough defense which No Way had little success penetrating. Coach Paul Micarsos who was voted as the best coach of the 2009 season tried to rally his players to rise to the challenge. BJ Advento answered the call by finishing with a team high 7 points in the first half, including a triple. However, Advento did not get enough support from his teammates.

No Way made a game of it in the second half, but hardly made a dent in the lead of the Warriors who did not relax a bit in their opening triumph. It was in the second half when Ryan De Gracia put on a three point shooting clinic with five three pointers. No Way went down fighting however as Arnold Dawinan and Dave Setters discovered their shooting touch to combine for 21 points in the second half. In the end however, the superior line up of the GK Warriors proved too much for No Way Team to overcome.

“The Warriors played very hard and we got the win,” said Warrior team manager Doctor Mel Madarang. “The Warriors outplayed us and they are a much better team than last year. They have a very deep line-up,“ said Micarsos, playing coach of No Way Team.

For Coach Herb Monsalud and his charges, there is no better way to start than this resounding win over No Way, a giant first step for the Warriors to be crowned as the first three-peat champion of the PAAD Palaro League.

Box Scores:
85 - Warriors: Ryan De Gracia, 21; Dustin Coloso, 14; Curtis Clemente, 12; Dennis Balagtas, 7; Leo Yanogacio 6; Ryan De Guzman, 5; Mario Lancioni, 5; Santini Lancioni, 5; Chris Clemente, 5; Ian Clemente, 3; Sonny De la Torre, 2
58 - No Way (Maricas): Arnold Dawinan, 14; BJ Advento, 13; Dave Setters, 11; Kenneth Savella, 6; Alex Alday, 5; Jones Salpan, 4; Malowe Ulit,3; El Persons, 2

D1: WSA trounced archrival Red Bulls, 62-45 (Open Division)

By Jun Rana / Photo by Poochie Roldan

Hot shooting Paul Nicdao had 24 points , Michael Alegarbes had 12 points and Lester Dabu added 10 points to spark Wala Sa Ayos (WSA) to a 62-45 opener win over archrival Red Bulls in the Open Division of the PAAD Palaro 2010 tournament.

Red Bulls missed the services of several of its key players including Raymond Latoga, Chris Balan, Jake Cortez and Paul Tan. Latoga was a star player of last year’s runner up Baltimore Dragons. Red Bulls however showed its resiliency in the first half, when they were downed by only six, 29-23. The scoring trio of Julio Concepcion, Frank Concepcion and Mitch Gacosta provided the much needed boost for Red Bulls by scoring toe to toe with Nicdao, Lester Dabu and Alex Santos. Nicdao finished the half with 12 points.

However, in the second half Alegarbes and Nicdao triggered a 19-13 run that gave them a 48-36 lead midway in the second half. WSA never looked back after that run as Red Bulls run out of steam with its depleted line up. Alegarbes had two three pointers in the second half.
“It was a tough loss. WSA played well. We certainly missed our key players. We will be more competitive in future games,” said Coach Karl Malicdem of Red Bulls. In this game, Coach Malicdem pretty much relied on his scoring trio who played last year with the Baltimore Dragons.

Armando Concepcion, playing coach of WSA was absent during the game, and Alegarbes called
the shots in his absence. “This is a good start,” said Alegarbes.

Scores:
62 - WSA: Paul Nicdao, 24; Michael Alegarbes, 12; Lester Dabu, 10; Alex Santos, 7; Roque Guerzon, 5; Charles Peart, 3; Ken Santos, 1

45 - Red Bulls: Frank Concepcion, 15; Mitch Gacosta, 13; Julio Concepcion, 11; Ben Wu 6

D1: Baltimore Dragons escapes Delaware Titans' upset bid, 47-39 (Open Division)

By Jun Rana / Photo By Poochie Roldan

Even playing with only five players would not stop the Baltimore Dragons to gut out a hard fought win over the Delaware Titans, 47-39 in Open Division of the PAAD Palaro 2010 tournament. And the Dragons had to do it with Coach Ed Padilla playing for the first time in any PAAD tournaments. The scoring trio of RJ Bazon, Joshua Marasigan and Justin Marasigan combined for 45 points to power the Dragons over the Titans.

It was a match of attrition as the Delaware Titans were also missing the services of team Captain Steve Antonio and key player Jason Del Rosario who were on vacation in the Philippines. With nine players however, the Delaware Titans suddenly had a good chance of beating the Dragons who showed up with only five players.

The match was a very close one with the teams exchanging leads in the first half. The Dragons were only leading 16-13 midway in the first half. Rowell Quezon and Paul Valencia however kept the Titans in the thick of the fight. Quezon and Valencia had 12 points in the first half. But RJ Bazon, Joshua Marasigan and Justin Marasigan always had answer for every Titans run as the half ended 24-18 in favor of Baltimore.

The second half was a tight contest. The Dragons countered the Titans basket for basket and at the same time managed to stay away from crucial fouls to avoid fouling out of one of its players. It was Quezon and Valencia carrying the scoring load for the Titans against the Baltimore scoring trio. When the smoke of the battle cleared at 3 minutes and 45 seconds remaining in the second half, the Dragons managed to have a breathing room with 42-33 lead. It was a good enough to carry the Dragons to their first win in the Open Division of the tournament.

“A lot of my players are playing in other tournaments in Virginia/ Washington DC areas at the same time with the PAAD tournament. That’s why we only have five players today,” said Coach Ed Padilla who had a sense of relief with the win.

“We’re okay,” said losing player JC Destreza of the Titans with a smile indicating they will be ready in the coming games. The Titans will be reinforced by Jesse Fabian, the Titan’s top scorer last year in its next games.

BOX SCORES:
47 – Baltimore Dragons – RJ Buzon, 19; Justin Marasigan, 14; Joshua Marasigan, 12; Ed Padilla, 2

39 – Delaware Titans – Rowell Quezon, 17; Paul Valencia, 11; Arnel Lalicon, 6; Ian Orbeta, 3; Glen De Luna, 2

D1: GK Warriors beats Delaware Titans, 66-46 (35 and Over)

By Jun Rana / Photo by Poochie Roldan

Tony Astoveza, Sonny De La Torre, Dennis Balagtas and Jim Reynolds combined for 61 points to power the GK Warriors to a rousing win over the Delaware Titans in the first ever PAAD 35 Years Old and Over Division, 66-46. The Warriors height advantage proved to be a decisive factor, as the Warriors outrebounded the Titans 25-14 and made easy baskets inside the paint.

The Warriors took control of the game early in the first half as they raced to an early 19-10 lead with baskets from Astoveza, De La Torre and Balagtas. Jim Reynolds had at least 3 rebounds during that span and his towering presence disrupted several plays of the Titans. The Warriors padded the lead to 33-15 at half time.

Egged on by its fans, the Titans played better in the second half. Ramon Agui, Karl Ebron and Luis Alvarez dropped a 15-10 bomb to reduce the Warriors lead to 13, at 43-30 midway in the second half. Agui made a jump shot and a three point play on a layup in that crucial stretch. However, De La Torre answered back with a basket to make it 45-30. Ebron however countered with a 3 point shot, to make it 45-33. That proved to be the last stand of the Titans, as De La Torre, Astoveza, Balagtas and Reynolds unleashed a 21-13 salvo to end the game with a final score of 66-46. Reynolds continued his dominance in the boards in that stretch hauling down 2 crucial rebounds to halt the Titans run.

In the dying seconds of the game, the crowd cheered on for Doctor Mel Madarang to convert a free throw. Madarang, who is also the Team Manager of the Warriors, obliged as he made his final free throw to put his name in the scoreboard.

“The height advantage is too much to overcome,” said Titans player Joneil Garcia. “Yes, we have the height advantage. However, they may have their big player as well in our next meeting with them,” said De La Torre, team captain of the GK Warriors. De La Torre is referring to Jason Del Rosario who is still in vacation in the Philippines.

Scores:
66 - GK Warriors: Tony Astoveza, 17; Sonny De La Torre,17; Dennis Balagtas, 14; Jim Reynolds, 13; Felix Vergara , 2; James Hoeffliger, 2; Doc Mel Madarang, 1

46 – Delaware Titans: Ramon Agui,13; Karl Ebron, 8, Luiz Alvarez, 7; Ed Ortega, 5; Eggie Alafriz, 4; Jorge Corotan,3; Dodjie Allarey, 2; D Tapel, 2, Joel Villamor 2