Ezekiel is Genesis Cup champion

Ezekiel’s Armin Larinay scored only five points in Monday’s championship game of the Filipino Community Church Inaugural Inter-Color Basketball League, but his two buckets late in the game gave his team the boost it needed to beat Jeremiah, 69-66, at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With Jeremiah trailing by just a point, 60-61, Larinay swooshed a shot from beyond the 3-point line with 1:30 on the clock, then came back again and hit a perimeter jumper from the baseline to give his team a six-point edge, 66-60, with 59.2 seconds remaining.

The win was not secured, though, as Jeremiah’s Manuel Ajoste, who tormented the Ezekiel defense throughout the game with quick drives, came through again as he hit two free throws then stole the ball at halfcourt and went coast to coast for a layup that brought his team within three points, 63-66, with just 37 ticks remaining.

Another Ezekiel turnover resulted in a fastbreak opportunity for Jeremiah, and after getting fouled while going up for a layup, Julius Dela Luya hit one of two free throws to pull his team within a field goal, 64-66.

Gilbert Miranda then hit a free throw for Ezekiel and Ajoste hit two free throws to bring Jeremiah within a point, 66-67, with 6.1 seconds remaining.

Jeremiah put the pressure on Ezekiel with their full-court press, however, Rocyl Ritual was able to break free, got the inbounds pass, then hit Miranda who was fouled with just 0.5 seconds left in the game. Miranda hit both free throws and Ajoste’s full-court desperation shot came up short to end the game.

Ezekiel seemed to be well on their way to victory in the early goings. Marlon De Dios dominated the paint in the opening period, scoring 12 points to put Ezekiel up by six points, 23-17.

The big man then added another 10 points in the second period and Ezekiel built a double-digit lead, only to see it evaporate as Jeremiah closed the half on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to just five points, 34-39.

Jeremiah was down by 14, 34-48, with a little over six minutes left in the third quarter when Ajoste took over. The deficit was quickly erased as the lightning-quick guard scored 12 points to spearhead a 20-14 run that resulted in Jeremiah taking the lead just before the sound of the buzzer, 54-53.

Ritual then stepped up for Ezekiel and scored eight points during the early stages of the fourth quarter to enable his team to regain advantage.

De Dios finished with 24 points to lead Ezekiel, while Ritual and Miranda added 18 and 12 points.

Ajoste led all scorers with 31 points, while Ronel Gamboa pumped in 15 markers for Ezekiel.

In the consolation game, Manalo Manolo led four Isaiah cagers in double figures and the team claimed third place with a 76-66 victory over Nehemiah.

Manolo and Jonathan Ong finished with 19 and 17 points, while Jojo Guinto and Meljhun Capalad had 12 and 10 points for Isaiah.

Jon Artates led Nehemiah with 21 points, while Johnny Badiles and Erick Lansangan had 14 and 12 points.

Consolation Game

Isaiah 76 – Manolo 19, Ong 17, Guinto 12, Capalad 10, Padolina 9, David 7, Danipog 2.

Nehemiah 66 – Artates 21, Badiles 14, Lansangan 12, Untalan 6, Llagas 4, Canlas 4, Capalad 3, Mandaing 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-17, 38-33, 55-51, 76-66.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Eric Artillaga.

Championship Game

Ezekiel 69 – De Dios 24, Ritual 18, Miranda 12, Carreon 6, Larinay 5, Sanciangco 4.

Jeremiah 66 – Ajoste 31, Gamboa 15, Javier 8, Isip 4, Dela Luya 4, Sicat 2, Ibanez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-17, 39-34, 53-54, 69-66.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Eric Artillaga.