Sonics claim U21 championship

The 670 Sonics ruled the U21 division of the 2014 BANMI Youth League after notching a 66-60 finals win over the Ol’Aces last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Sonics, who finished second to the then unbeaten Ol’Aces in the regular season, delivered in the game that mattered the most, starting strong and playing steady in the final half after backing down in the second period to clinch the division crown.

A 14-4 scoring in the first four minutes of the winner-take-all finale put the Sonics in charge of the game early, as coach Jesse Tudela drew points from almost all the players he fielded in the match. However, the Sonics failed to hang on to the double-digit lead and even lost the driver’s seat in the second period.

The Ol’Aces earned a living from the foul line in the second quarter, scoring seven straight points from the stripe midway in that period, which Ignacio Borja ended with back-to-back baskets to grab the upper hand from the Sonics, 35-29.

The seesaw battle continued in the third period with the Sonics regaining the lead, 49-46, behind the 8 points of Melvin Cadiang.

The advantage was stretched to 8 in the early goings of the fourth period, 54-46, as Jaymark De Guzman started the final canto with a triple, followed by a Jack Aranda short jumper.

With the Sonics threatening to pull away, the Ol’Aces Kobee Mendoza decided to take charge, but paid a big price, as he fell hard on the ground when he was fouled while pulling up for a baseline jumper. Mendoza left the game at the 8:43 mark and never came back, making it harder for the Ol’Aces to mount another comeback and easier for the Sonics to finish off their rival.

The 670 Sonics’ Bryle Alegre goes up for a layup against the Ol’Aces’ Ignacio Borja, left, and Jimmy Tudela during their title game in the U21 division of the BANMI youth caging last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Karlo De Leon replaced the injured Mendoza and sank the two charities to move the Ol’Aces within six and a few possessions later the deficit was brought down to four, 50-54. Mendoza trooped to the foul line anew, but this time missed both free throws. Fortunately for the Ol’Aces, Ignacio Borja was there for the offensive rebound and the putback.

A De Guzman reverse layup on the other end gave the Sonics more breathing room, while Paul Mariano nailed a fastbreak layup after an Ol’Aces error to bring the lead back to 8, 58-50. The Sonics then flirted with a double-digit advantage, 61-52, after Espinosa answered Borja’s drive with a left corner triple to beat the 24-second shot clock.

The Ol’Aces never recovered from thereon, as they clearly missed the leadership and offense of Mendoza. The Ol’Aces faltered in their comeback bid without Mendoza as they missed several important free throws and muffed easy shots. The Ol’Aces went only 3-for-10 from the foul line in the final half of the fourth quarter.

Aranda top-scored in the Sonics’ title conquest, tallying 13, while De Guzman and Cadiang added 11 and 10, respectively. Mendoza still led the Ol’Aces despite missing majority of the fourth canto, as he scored 10 points, which LD Sanchez duplicated.

Meanwhile, Kagman Sparks outlasted Dream Team in overtime, 91-85, to bag the third place trophy.

Jason Lampkin and Allan Yu combined for 9 of Kagman’s 10 points in the extra five minutes of the game to lift the Sparks to a podium finish. Lampkin registered Kagman’s first 5 markers in the extension, while Yu drilled the last 4. Jesse Santos scored Kagman’s other point.

Dream Team failed to complete a come-from-behind win after converting only one field goal in overtime off Richard Ada’s triple. Dixon Kwon scored first for Dream Team in the extra frame with his split charity.

Lampkin paced Kagman with his 26 points, while Yu added 16. Shane Deleon Guerrero led all scorers with his 39 points, while Ada chipped in 27.

First Game

Kagman 91–Lampkin 26, Yu 20, Je. Santos 16, Malwelbug 8. Mettao 8, Jo. Santos 6, Palino 6.

Dream Team 85–S. Deleon Guerrero 39, Ada 27, Ito 8, Kwon 7, D. Deleon Guerrero 4.

Scoring by quarters: 16-12, 42-30, 56-51, 81-81, 91-85 (OT).

Second Game

Sonics 66–Aranda 13, De Guzman 11, Cadiang 10, Alegre 7, Mariano 6, J. Villanueva 5, Flores 4, Espinosa 3,Feria 2, Fidelino 1.

Ol’Aces 60– Mendoza 10, Sanchez 10, Borja 9, Tudela 8, De Leon 4, Yap 3, Darag 2, Francisco 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-12, 29-35, 49-46, 66-60.