Armatech bags U20 championship

Armatech brought home the U20 division championship in the 2015 United Filipino Organization Basketball League following a 78-66 victory against the Ol’Aces last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Armatech’s Kobee Mendoza goes up for an acrobatic shot against the Ol’Aces’ Darrion Jones during the second quarter of their U20 division title game in the2015 United Filipino Organization Basketball League last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Armatech defeated the Ol’Aces after working its way back from a 10-point deficit in the third period and playing a solid fourth quarter.

The Ol’Aces posted their biggest lead, 45-35, at the 5:02 mark of third canto, as they held Armatech to two field goals, while scoring 15 points in nearly the first five minutes of the second half. Jesse Santos led the early run, nailing 7 straight points, Jonathan Santos and Mike Muna added one triple each, while Andrew Palino posted the other 2 points.

Armatech, which got its two field goals in that meltdown from Kobe Mendoza and Jun Fidelino, pressed the panic button after the Ol’Aces’ rally; and when the game resumed countered with its own 10-0 spurt to return to business. Armatech stared at a 10-point deficit in the third as it committed several errors off screenplays outside before making the proper spacing later to get open looks at the basket and launch a comeback. Art Borromeo came off the bench and hit a triple to spark the surge, while Jethro Cruz logged 5 straight points off a triple and a layup, and Mendoza finished the run with another layup.

A triple from Mike Muna doused Armatech’s fiery run, 48-45, but the latter went on to win the exchange in the last two minutes and grab the upper hand, 53-50, entering the fourth quarter.

In the final period, Armatech’s lead ballooned to as much as 14 points with Mendoza, Fidelino, Cruz, and Mike Espinosa playing steady for the eventual champion and coach Joe Diaz getting quality minutes from Borromeo.

Fidelino started the fourth frame with 5 straight points, while Espinosa also scored in streaks with his three field goals, as Armatech outgunned the Ol’Aces anew in first four minutes of the final canto, 11-3, to threaten a breakaway, 64-53.

The Ol’Aces fought back and moved within 5 points, 59-64, after getting baskets from Jesse and Jonathan Santos and Muna, with still 5:22 left on the clock. However, that was the closest that the Ol’Aces could get as Armatech went for the kill in the next three minutes, unloading an 11-2 bomb, highlighted by back-to-back triples from Borromeo and Espinosa.

Espinosa’s first triple of the night put Armatech on top by 14, 75-61, with only 2:12 remaining in the game and the Ol’Aces failed to pull off a miracle in the closing minutes to settle for the runner-up honors.

Espinosa was among the four Armatech players who scored in twin digits in the finals with his 13. Cruz led Armatech with his 20 markers, while Mendoza and Fidelino chipped in 15 and 13, respectively. Borromeo came off the bench and added 6, while fellow second stringers Iglecias and Adrian De Luna contributed 7 points total. Melvin Deocares completed Armatech’s box score, tallying 3 points.

Jesse Santos had 14 to pace the Ol’Aces, while Muna and Jones registered 13 and 10, respectively.

Armatech 78 – Cruz 20, Mendoza 15, Espinosa 13, Fidelino 11, Borromeo 6, Iglecias 5, Deocares 3, De Luna 2.

Ol’Aces 66 – Je. Santos 14, Muna 13, Jones 10, Palino 8, Lampkin 7, Jo. Santos 7, Magofna 4, Nakashima 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-18, 31-30, 53-50, 78-66.