SCSIT outguns RemEMBER to rule 6th M. Lhuillier Under-21 cagefest

CEBU - The Salazar Colleges of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT)Skyblazers capitalized on their superior heft and height to vanquish Team RemEMBER, 84-75, in their sudden-death final to clinch the championship of the 6th M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Under-21 Developmental Basketball League at the full-packed Consolacion Sports Complex.

From the outset, the SCSIT Skyblazers of coach Jojo Romarate were unmindful of the pressure playing before a boisterous, partisan crowd backed up by a bunch of bass-drum beating fans.

And courtesy of their free-flowing offense, the Skyblazers jumped off to a flying start, 24-13 - a lead they never relinquished until the final buzzer.

Team RemEMBER trimmed the deficit down to eight at halftime, 29-37, but the fully-recharged Skyblazers went back to business in the third period to restore a dozen-point advantage, 59-47, going into the final 10 minutes of the contest.

It was an all-SCSIT show from there onwards. Not even the presence of the team’s staunchest supporters, Consolacion Vice Mayor Ember V. Alinsug and team manager Paul Alelu Q. Flores could uplift the spirits of the RemEMBER cagers.

From 18 points down, the best Team RemEMBER could muster was to pull within 69-71 behind the efforts of Jerome Valles as the more experienced Skyblazers proved to be a tough nut to crack at crunchtime.

Earlier, the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park staged a great escape to stun Consolacion National High School (CNHS) Black Shama in overtime, 81-79, and take home the third place honors.

It was truly a resounding triumph for Ave Maria of coach Marlon Piodo as it did not enjoy a taste of the lead until the final 28 seconds of the regulation period, 69-66. In the ensuing play, Lemuel Malagar hit a buzzer-beating triple to forge a 69-all deadlock, thus, the five-minute extension.

The highly-successul tournament was organized by the M. Lhuillier Sports Development Foundation (MLSDF) through the efforts of its executive director Eddie B. Ybañez and the all-out support of revered businessman-sportsman Michel J. Lhuillier.

The scores

For third

Ave Maria SP ( 81) - Abing 23,Olbedado 17, Senining 10, Montenegro 9, De la Rama 8, Cinco 6, Trillo 4, Pacino 2, Regalado 2

CNHS Black Shamma (79) - Rio 21, Linao 16, Malagar 15, Najarro 13, Tibalan 6, Cadampog 4, Jabla 3, Conde 1

Quarterscores:14-16, 28-33, 42-47, 69-69 (Reg.), 81-79 (OT)

Championship

SCSIT (84 ) - Amarado 20, Llamedo 18, Maurillo 18, Rabaya 12, Arribal 7, Balaba 3, Paquibot 3, Salazar 2, Bigno1            

RemEMBER ( 75 ) - Valle 26, Dahil 15, Medida 10, Sanchez 8, Ermac 5, Somosot 4, Pilapil 2, Villamor 2, Tibon 2, Rohas1

Quarterscores:24-13, 37-29, 59-47, 84-75 – EBV (THE FREEMAN)