DYS/Bayani takes U20 championship

  MDX/Marianas Resort was less than two minutes away from winning the championship, but DYS/Bayani stole the crown after eking out a 74-69 victory in their title game in the U20 division of the 2012 UFO Docomo Pacific Cup last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

MDX went up, 69-64, after a completed 3-point play from Eugene Manglona, 1:54 left on the clock, but Jaymark De Guzman and Jimmy Tudela teamed up in a 10-0 dagger to hand DYS/Bayani the championship.

Tudela started the rally with his own version of an and-1 play. Before Tudela’s convertion, DYS/Bayani missed three attempts inside. Tudela collared the third offensive board and made the putback, plus the bonus shot to cut the lead to two, 67-69, 1:36 left in the game.

Adrian Palacios missed on the other end, paving the way for a game-tying basket for Tudela, while DYS/Bayani regained possession off a MDX error, sending De Guzman to the foul line. De Guzman made the first to give DYS/Bayani the lead, 70-69, and missed the second. In the rebound play, Jun Del Rosario had a hand on the ball, but failed to control the leather, which De Guzman picked up.

DYS/Bayani then moved the ball around before Tudela made a bounce pass to a cutting De Guzman from the right wing to up the lead to three, 72-69, 48.5 seconds remaining on the clock.

MDX had a chance to move closer, but Melvin Cadiang muffed two crucial free throws and his two other teammates faltered on putback attempts in the ensuing plays. De Guzman, on the other hand, canned a pair of charities in the last 22 seconds to seal the come-from-behind win.

De Guzman led all scorers with his 26 markers, while Tudela added 21.

Manglona had 20 for MDX, which opened a 20-14 advantage against the undefeated DYS/Bayani in the first period with Kevin De Leon drilling 7 of his 9 markers at the start of the title match.

MDX kept the lead in the second, 35-32, as DYS/Bayani still could not get its offense going. The game remained close at the end of the third with DYS/Bayani this time on top by a deuce, 48-46, after Jack Aranda scored four straight points in the closing minutes of that canto.

After making 8 of his 9 markers in the third period, Aranda missed all his shots in the fourth, but De Guzman and Tudela were there to save the day for DYS/Bayani. De Guzman exploded for 16 points in the final canto, while Tudela nailed 7.

DYS/Bayani 74 – De Guzman 26, Tudela 21, Aranda 9, Mizer 8, Alegre 4, Salem 2.

MDX/Mariana Resort 69 – Manglona 20, Cadiang 10, De Leon 9, Palacios 8, Caro 7, Mettao 4, Ano 4, Del Rosario 3, Ecalnea 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-20, 32-35, 48-46, 74-69.

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter