Expect the unexpected

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

ESPERAR la inesperado, a Spanish phrase that means to expect the unexpected.

This is an old adage that proves true to anyone and anytime in the daily grind.

It has already happened to me many times, and I believe, you, dear readers, have already experienced this too.

It happened again during the opening of an inter-commercial basketball league held at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen last Sunday when the highly favored Binmaley-based St. Lucy’s Cataract Eye Care Center (SLCECC) suffered an unexpected defeat against the newly formed and underrated Capitol Team, 95-88.

The Capitol Team, under the mentorship of head coach Boy Romero, despite only a month of regrouping and jelling, proved to their counterparts that they have a pool with talent, skills and height.  And that they are not a mere “push-over team” but a title contender in this five-team elite tournament dubbed as the “First Martina Farm Open Basketball Championship”.

The boys of Romero took the lead early on, with first quarter scores closing at 22-14.  Six-foot-six slotman Jayson Tiongson, using his height advantage, did the most damage converting 10 points of his total 23.

But the SLCECC squad, steered by famous Jack Vidal, fought back in the second quarter to tie the game, 41-41.

But that was all that the more favored Vidal’s group could muster. They trailed their enemies on the third, 74-65, and finally succumbed by seven points despite the heroic play of La Union-born Raymund Salvador Litonjua shooting a game high 33 points.

It was the turn of two San Carlenean forwards, Leonardo Gubatan and Richard dela Cruz, to shine in the last period, grabbing five offensive essential boards that irritated the star-studded SLCECC boys.

The six-foot-one Gubatan, 2004 SK Pangasinan Inter-Towns and Cities Basketball Championship MVP, scored a game high 24 points while dela Cruz contributed 13.

“Bilog ang bola.” Yan ang kasabihan ng Pilipino sa larangan ng ball games, and I believe them.

The same upset happened last Thursday in the NBA when record-holder Boston Celtics was shocked by the lowly rated Charlotte Bobcats and lost by a rout, 95-83. 

Back to the First Martina Farm Open Basketball Championship, in the second game of the day, the University of Pangasinan Webczars (not Jazy Sportswear as earlier printed), the 2005 PRISAA Pangasinan-Dagupan  Basketball Tournament champion, escaped a scary fourth quarter play to trounce the stubborn Team Lingayen, 95-89.

The UPang boys of Cesar Duque, despite displaying a dominant pace in the first three quarters, 25-24, 46-38 and 68-65, respectively, collapsed at the start of the fourth and final period, 70-72, but recovered their composure in the last two-and-half minutes for the victory.

Thanks to the prolific play of Bryan Santillan and Renato  Soriano, especially in the dying minutes of the game. They were the main heroes of the conquest.

The scrambling Webczars, managed by Dominador Rayos, is now under the stewardship of tactician Jay Ronquillo in the absence of head coach Angel Gumarang.

From what I heard, Gumarang, who was elected barangay chairman in the October election, is very busy settling the woes of his constituents in barangay Bonuan Gueset. He will be back soon to steer the Webczars again.

Hostilities resume every Saturday and Sunday afternoons starting at 3:30 p.m. at the same venue. Admission fee is only P5, very affordable ‘ika nga.

The month-long tournament is organized by well-known Lingayen entrepreneur Engr. Frederick Teodoro under the commissionership of Fernando H. Romero.

Teodoro told this writer that he is conceptualizing another plan to hold another tourney this coming summer with some minor changes in the format.

To erase some doubts and speculations on favoritism, the league’s chief coordinator, Roberto “Jun” Amado, said the cagefest will be officiated by Manila-based National Referees Commission (NARECOM) officials headed by internationally licensed arbiter Anthony Sulit. (NARECOM is affiliated with the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas, the national governing body of amateur basketball).     

See you there.

(Readers may reach columnist at biking.jess@yahoo.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/
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