Chairman’s Corner: Closing Remarks

Congratulations and Kudos. The Pilipino American Association of Delaware (PAAD) officers congratulate all the winners and every competitors in the 2010 PAAD Palaro. Everyone is a winner in the Palaro. By winning friends, displaying sportsmanship and competing at his or her best, one should be proud of what he or she has achieved. While not everyone holds the big trophy, the one with the big heart, with the big smile and who gave it all in the competition are winners in the eyes of the Almighty.

We also thank the generous donors in the event who made the 2010 PAAD Palaro a resounding success. The Health Care for Children in Elkton, Maryland, the Philippine Bread House, and the other generous individual donors whether in cash or in kind, are deeply appreciated and admired.

We also thank the PAAD Sports Committee members and volunteers for all their time, efforts and hard work to ensure the success of Palaro. Your help and efforts had made a lot of people happy and will truly inspire others in ensuring the continuing success of the Palaro for many years to come.

Lastly, we thank everyone for their support. By just watching the Palaro, by just being there in the event, your support are much appreciated.

Magkitakita po tayo sa 2011 PAAD Palaro. Maraming salamat po. Mabuhay po tayong lahat.

Bumabati,
Jun Rana
Chairman
PAAD Sports Committee

D8: Special Awards Winners

Following are the special awards winners in the 2010 PAAD Palaro:

Three Point Shootout Champion - Jake Cortez, Red Bull

Best Uniform – Dynamic Physical Therapy

Open Division:
Tournament MVP - Paul Nicdao, Wala Sa Ayos (WSA)
Championship Game MVP - Mario Lancioni, GK Warriors
Best Coach - Paul Micarsos, No Way

35 and Over Division:
Tournament MVP - Jim Reynolds, GK Warriors
Best Coach - D Tapel, Delaware Titans

D8: White Team wins Youth Basketball Championship

The White Team overcame an early first quarter deficit, and then pulled away in the 3rd and 4th quarters of the game to defeat the Black Team, 32-18 in the championship game of the Philippine Bread House PAAD Youth Basketball Championship. The championship game was a big treat to the fans specially to the youth, teenagers and parents or relatives of the players.

The Youth Basketball Tournament was participated by boys and girls with ages ranging from eight years old to sixteen years old. All of the boys and girls in the teams had their chances to play in the courts to the delight of the cheering fans and loved ones. A loud applause usually follows a shot which a player makes in the game, specially those made by the younger and little players in the championship.

D8: Elkton Elitz nips Delaware Dabarkads in Three Sets, 22-25, 21-19, 21-19 (Mixed Volleyball)

Elkton Elitz, the last placer in the elimination round, completed its Cinderella run with a stunning 22-25, 21-19, 21-19 victory over the favorite Delaware Dabarkads, and in the process captured the 2010 PAAD Palaro Mixed Volleyball championship. It was a sweet revenge for the Elitz who were beaten by Dabarkads in last year’s final. L’Spikers De Volleyball placed third in the competition.

The championship game however was a big treat to the wildly cheering fans of both teams as they watched the battle royal. It was a game of runs. In the last set, Elitz threatened to pull away earlier but Dabarkads tied the score at 16 all. With the game tied at 19 all, Elitz scored the final two points to win the championship and end the reign of Dabarkads.

D8: GK Warriors are Champs in 35 and Over Years Old Division, stops Titans, 55-47

By Jun Rana

The GK Warriors achieved history by becoming the first 35 and Over Years Old Division champion of the PAAD basketball league with a resounding win over the Delaware Titans, 55-47 in their championship game. Dennis Balagtas with 19 points and Tony Astoveza with 11 points provided the offense while Jim Reynolds provided the rebounds and defense in the Warriors triumph.

Early on the Delaware Titans fought toe to toe with the Warriors in the first half with no teams enjoying a double digit lead. The trio of Balagtas, Astoveza and Reynolds provided the 1-2-3 punch for the Warriors while the Titans countered with the quartet of Karl Ebron, Ed Ortega, Jeorge Corotan and Willie Fontano. Ebron had two three point shots, while Ortega, Corotan and Fontano had one each. It was a tight first half with the Warriors enjoying only a one point lead at 25-24.

In the second half, the Warriors and the Titans kept the game close until halfway in the second half. At the 11th minute mark, the Warriors made their move and took advantage of the cold shooting spell of the Titans, specially from its big man, Jason Del Rosario. With Balagtas and Astoveza leading the way, several players moved in for the kill in annexing the Warriors championship crown. Ed Padilla (Baltimore Dragons Coach) who plays for the Warriors, made his contribution through clutch free throw shooting while Felix Vergara and Sonny De La Torre hit a crucial three point shot as the Warriors built an insurmountable 8 point lead with half a minute remaining in the game. It was a lead which they preserved until the end of the final buzzer.

Big man Jim Reynolds, who provided the muscles in the boards and who anchored the defense of the Warriors was adjudged as the Division’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). It was a sweet win for the Warriors against a team which provided them with all they could handle and a good battle for the championship. For the Titans, the basketball gods were not on their side as they missed several easy baskets and crucial free throws down the stretch. A basket here and there could have swung the momentum in the Titans way. The Warriors proved steadier at the end to seal their first ever 35 and Over Years Old Division crown to the delight of their adoring cheering fans.

Box Scores:
55 – GK Warriors: Dennis Balagtas, 19; Tony Astoveza, 11; Felix Vergara, 7; Jim Reynolds, 6; Sonny De La Torre, 5; Ed Padilla, 5; Nestor San Diego, 2

47 – Delaware Titans: Karl Ebron, 11; Ed Ortega, 9; Jeorge Corotan, 9; D Tapel, 4; Joel Villamor, 3; Egui Alafriz, 3; Willie Fontano, 3; Jason Del Rosario, 3; Arnel Lalicon, 2

D8: GK Warriors Three Peats, rips Dragons, 85-57 (Open Division)

By Jun Rana

The GK Warriors, with its strongest team yet in the history of the league, achieved a historic three peat by beating the Baltimore Dragons, 85-57 in the championship game of the Open Division of the 2010 PAAD basketball tournament. Mario Lancioni who top scored with 30 points in the game was adjudged as the championship Most Valuable Player (MVP). The win preserved the unbeaten streak of the Warriors dating back to the 2008 PAAD Palaro.

The Warriors however were made to sweat in the first half as the Dragons gave them a scare in the early going. With RJ Buzon connecting on his rainbow shots, the Dragons led by as much as six points after 10 minutes of play in the first half. Coach Ed Padilla of the Dragons appeared to pull a rabbit out of his hat early on. However, the Warriors running game came into perfection as they erased the deficit and spurted into a 45-38 halftime lead. Mario Lancioni’s 17 points along with brother Santini Lancioni’s 9 points and Dustin Coloso’s 7 points in the first half provided to be decisive in overhauling the Dragons early advantage. It was the first time however that the Warriors were threatened by a team who could match their shooting prowess in the early going. Buzon had four triples for the Dragons in the first half.

In the second half however, playing Coach Herb Monsalud stressed defense to his Warrior’s team. And as the Warriors tightened their defense and prevented the three point shots of the Dragons, they slowly built a double digit lead. It was once again Mario Lancioni who provided the offensive spark with a barrage of three point shooting that doused the hopes of the Dragons. Mario’s three rainbow shots along with the superb play making of Leo Yanogacio, Santini Lancioni, Coloso and Yogi Veranga proved too much for the Dragons, as the Warriors built a 20 point cushion with about 5 minutes to go in the game. And with their cheering fans, the Warriors further padded the lead to 28 at the final buzzer, winning 85-57.

In the end, it was the depth of the Warriors lineup that carried them to victory as majority of their players are scoring threats. In the second half, the Dragons became weary and could not kept up with the fast paced game of the Warriors. And for Coach Monsalud, Team Manager Doc Mel Madarang and their players, a dynasty similar to the Celtics, Lakers and the Bulls in the NBA is possibly in the horizon.
Prior to the championship game, the Warriors clobbered Dynamics, 139-78, and the Dragons defeated No Way, 55-42 in their respective semifinal matches.

Box Scores:
85 – GK Warriors: Mario Lancioni, 30 ; Santini Lancioni, 15; Dustin Coloso; 12; Yogi Veranga, 8; Leo Yanogacio, 8; Curtis Clemente, 4; Ian Clemente, 3; Ryan De Guzman, 3; Herb Monsalud, 2

57 – Baltimore Dragons: RJ Buzon, 16; Frank Concepcion, 12; Sebastian Cabrera, 11; Souk Gumatay, 6; Julio Concepcion, 6; Anthony Curtiz, 4; Jake Cortez, 2