Sirlitz/Slimmers World bags Thirsty cage title

Sirlitz-Slimmers World erased a 13-point deficit late in the second quarter to dethrone Danaotel via a nerve-wracking 73-72 win in their knockout Game 3 and claim the title of the 5th Thirsty Hoop Jams basketball tournament on Wednesday night at the Bright Academy gym in Brgy. Banilad, this city.

Down at 32-45 with a few seconds left before halftime, the Sirlitz cagers of coach Teroy Albarillo shackled Danaotel's deadly running game with their excellent half-court trap in the third canto, thus, enabling them to pull within 51-56 entering the payoff period.

When Albarillo felt the momentum has shifted on their side in the last quarter, he ordered his players to employ man-to-man defense to neutralize Giovanni Belicario, Roland Pasaol and Christian Toledo.

That worked wonders as Sirlitz went on to wrest the lead for good, 70-69, on Marvin Padilla's perimeter basket at the final 1:44 mark of the contest.

After Danaotel's Belicario flubbed his charities, Mark Geniston knocked in a booming 3-pointer that gave Sirlitz a 73-69 breather with 35 seconds remaining in the game.

Sirlitz's tandem at the post did the heaviest damage on Danaotel as Dennis Acebron muscled his way to a game-high 27 points, while Padilla added 20 markers. The third player to score in double figures was Christian Salvilla with 11.

Geniston only had seven points, but his triple proved to be the turning point of Sirlitz's victory.

Belicario paced Danaotel with 26 points, Pasaol finished with 14, whie Toledo and Glenn Novo had 12 and 11 points, respectively, in a losing cause.

Team owner Alma Gillamac said she did not expect her team to bag the championship considering that it is just the first time they joined the five-year-old, inter-company cage league conceptualized by Charlie Pages.

"We play just for fun, but since the team reached the championship, I gave my full support to them," said Gillamac, who graciously hosted a victory party for his wards right after the match.

The other members of the champion team include Jun Verano, GAA Founder's Cup MVP Ernie Dingal, Serge Abesia, Ojet Miranda, Arnold Valmeo, and Dennis Tamarra.