Battle royale in Calasiao

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

TWO days before the event I was informed that the second day of hostilities of the 2016 UCAAP Jimmy Fernandez Basketball Challenge will be held in Calasiao at the newly built Calasiao Sports Center.  Surprised because for the last six years since this annual league was born, it’s the first time for the tourney to be held outside Dagupan City. Yes, the arena built during the term of former Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay is perfect for basketball clashes and other indoor sports activities like badminton, table tennis, volleyball, taekwondo, to name some.

The gym is so impressive with its 14 big units of air conditioning system plus big electric fans that I believe it can host a national affair like a PBA game. I doff my hat to the sports-minded former hizzoner Mark Roy for a job well done. I’ve been traveling around province for the last five years and no town, so far, can surpass or equal the features of the gym. It’s a perfect for indoor gyms.

The first game between AIE Green Eagles and PIMSAT Dragons turned to be lopsided victory for the Eagles from the start to the end, 96-67. But the LNU Dukes vs. PhilCST Topnotch main event of the day was the opposite of the first game. It was thrilling and exciting that even the experts of the sport could not predict the outcome of the match until the final buzzer ended. Yes, the Topnotch who enjoyed the home court edge, supported by the partisan crowd, took the lead in the first two quarters, 21-15, 39-29, due to a very poor free throws by the Dukes, converting only three out of twenty, a record in the league, while Topnotch enjoying the familiarity of the court nailing four out of seven. Obviously I saw it as the big difference at half time.

But the ‘never say die’ Dukes with Gilmark Meneses receiving the baton from Nanoy Duque as the new head coach, told his boys to be fast and furious, in the third juncture spearheaded by guards Roxar Melendez and Aljohn Alipio and led by a mere point, 52-51, all done through penetrations and perimeter shots that delighted the Dukes’ ardent fans.

Dukes slowly but surely took the upper hand at the fourth and final period with veteran forward Aljick Aquino burying his second trey of the quarter after the score was tied at 72-72, 1:08 minutes left of the game. Topnotch never lost hope and tried their best to counter attack but missed their two trey attempts and  Dukes’ other reliable forward Jomar Ordona sank a buzzer-beating shot to seal the tension-filled match to 80-72 final score.

Even if the encounters of the four squads were just a part of elimination round, I join the pundits’ verdict that the Dukes and Topnotch game had all the elements of a championship game. So I believe the next matches will even be more tense than ever. The Dukes are out to set a record as six times consecutive champions while Topnotch being coached by Cris Calaguio, Jun Marzan and Jay Ronquillo will fervently try to wrest the crown from the boys of Atty. Gonzalo Duque.

Let’s just wait and see.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous will be delivered. PROVERBS: 11: 9

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