Buzzer-beating triple lifts G-II to title

The stage was set for a phenomenal finish to the 2006 season of the NYBA cage league Monday night at the Garapan Basketball Court, and the players did not disappoint.

With his team down by two points and just two seconds left on the clock, Preston Basa received a crosscourt in-bounds pass from Bill Babauta, turned and quickly launched a shot from beyond the 3-point arc that found nothing but the bottom of the net to lift the Garapan Rollers II past sister team G-Rollers I, 62-61, in the finals of the 16-and-under division.

It was celebration time as the crowd went nuts, players from both teams exchanged high-fives, and all were left in amazement after witnessing a down-the-wire finish that had greatness written all over it.

The G-II crew controlled much of the opening half and headed into the break ahead by six points, 36-30.

The team then went on a 6-0 run to start the second half to up their to double digits, 42-30, but G-I responded with a 6-0 run of their own courtesy of three buckets by Jonathan Ada to cut the deficit back down.

The lead remained at six midway through when G-II broke out another spurt and pushed their lead back to double digits when Dior Jones hit a perimeter jumper with nine minutes left in the bout, 51-40.

G-I refused to throw in the towel and showed why they deserved to be in the finals as the team scored eight unanswered points, the final bucket coming on a baseline drive by Nate Mateo to cut the deficit to just three points, 48-51, with six minutes left on the clock.

The deficit remained at three, 51-54, when Keoni Chariton broke out for a fastbreak layup and Joemar Tumaquip hit a running floater with a little over three minutes remaining to give G-I a 55-54 lead.

G-II immediately responded with a bucket by Don Teregeyo, 56-55, and after Ada exited due to cramps, Jayvon Tarkong came through with a putback. Tarkong hit a free throw with 31 seconds left, for a 58-56 G-I advantage.

Allan Moses then hit one of two free throws to give G-I a 59-56 lead, but G-II caught a huge break when Bill Babauta attempted a triple and was fouled by Tarkong with 15 seconds on the clock. Babauta hit all three attempts to tie the game, and Chariton knocked down a shot with two seconds remaining before Basa came through.

“I was just trying to get the foul…I just shot it,” Basa said.

Jericho Cruz and Babauta led G-II with 25 and 12 points, with Cruz hitting four triples, while Ada and Tarkong had 18 and 13 for G-I. Chariton also added 11 points.

Earlier, Rodney Salas scored 11 points to lead G-I to a 43-33 victory over the House of Manhoben Saints in the 14-and-under division finals.

Salas and J.R. Concepcion scored six and four points in the first half to help G-I take a 22-14 halftime lead.

Vince Iglecias caught fire for the Saints and hit eight points in the second half, but G-I had enough juice to hold on and win by 10 markers.

Iglecias and Nickko Masga led the CTSI Logistics-backed Saints with 11 and eight points, while Zack Tudela scored seven points for G-I.

Meanwhile, NYBA officials disclosed yesterday that the awards banquet originally scheduled for today has been rescheduled for tomorrow at the Chamolinian Cultural Village.

14-and-under

G-I 43 – Salas 11, Tudela 7, Concepcion 6, Pangelinan 6, Diaz 4, Calvo 4, Lebria 4, Deleon Guerrero 3.

Saints 33 – V. Iglecias 11, Masga 8, Catap 4, Jo. Reyes 2, Feria 2, D. Reyes 2, Palacios 2, Tenorio 2.

Scoring by halves: 22-14, 43-33.

Referees: Patrinus Mario and George Cruz.

16-and-under

G-II 62 – Cruz 25, Babauta 12, Basa 7, Litulumar 6, Teregeyo 6, Tellei 4, Jones 2.

G-I 61 – Ada 18, Tarkong 13, Chariton 11, Tumaquip 6, Teregeyo 5, Moses 5, Mateo 3.

Scoring by halves: 36-30, 62-61.

Referees: Elias Rangamar and George Cruz.