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
No comments:
Post a Comment