DYS/SMF claims U14 title

  DYS/SMF cruised its way to the championship of the U14 division of the 2012 UFO Docomo Pacific Cup after routing VisMinda/Hi-Five in the finals, 114-44, last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Abner Venus-coached DYS/SMF secured the championship as early as the second quarter when the team opened a big 54-21 halftime advantage. Before the DYS/SMF’s breakaway, VisMinda/Hi-Five was still in the thick of fight after the first quarter, as the latter was behind by only five, 13-18.

Elnathan Wong and Jethro Cruz kept VisMinda/Hi-Five afloat in the opening quarter, combining for 11 points in the first period. Mike Arciaga made the two other points for VisMinda/Hi-Five in the first frame.

Six different players lit up the scoreboard for DYS/SMF in the opening quarter to take the 5-point lead, which ballooned to 23 at halftime, as the eventually champions turned on the heat in the second period. DYS/SMF outgunned VisMinda in the second frame, 36-8.

Again, DYS/SMF’s countless offensive options made the big difference in the second-period attack, as every player Venus fielded in the game found a way to score at least two baskets apiece. Michael Espinosa had 9, John Darag added 7, Adrian De Luna chipped in 6, and C.J. Morales, Jun Fidelino, and Djaymarch Ong contributed 4 each.

After its 36-point output in the second canto, DYS/SMF continued to burn the hoop at the start of the second half, firing 34 points. VisMinda/Hi-Five was held to another 8-point production and with the team facing a huge, 29-88 deficit, it needed to move heaven and earth to recover in the fourth.

However, no VisMinda/Hi-Five miracle happened in the final canto and DYS/SMF went on to secure the lopsided win.

Morales top-scored for DYS with 29 points, while his four other teammates also finished in double figures. Darag logged 20, Ong had 18, and Espinosa and Fidelino tallied 13 and 10, respectively. Only Jethro Cruz and Elnathan Wong scored in twin digits for VisMinda/Hi-Five, making 13 and 11, respectively.

Individual awardees

Meanwhile, DYS/SMF dominated the individual awards presented at the end of the league last Sunday.
JP Iglecias won the division MVP, while teammates Ong and Espinosa made it to the Mythical Five, joining MDX/Armatech’s Wilfredo Francisco and Dicky Feria, and VisMinda/Hi-Five’s Cruz.

Ong got his second individual award after winning the scoring champion title.

DYS/SMF 114 – Morales 29, Darag 20, Ong 18, Espinosa 13, Fidelino 10, De Luna 8, Venus 7, Iglecias 6, Subang 2.

VisMinda/Hi-Five 44 – Cruz 13, Wong 11, Lucido 4, Conde 4, Sabangan 4, Arciaga 4, Diyco 3, Mercini 1.

Scoring by quarters: 18-13, 54-21, 88-29, 114-44.

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter