Sonics crush Rollers 1 in U19 finale

The 670 Sonics clinched the boys U19 championship in the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic, following an impressive 88-64 victory over Rollers 1 last Saturday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The 670 Sonics’ Jack Aranda goes up for a left-handed shot against Rollers 1’s Prince Factor, right, during the second quarter of their title game in the boys U19 division of the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic last Saturday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Sonics dominated Rollers 1 in the first half and withstood the latter’s third-quarter rally to pull off an upset against their top-ranked foe.

The Jess Tudela-coached Sonics enjoyed a 21-point halftime advantage, 44-23, and padded the lead to 27, 52-25, with less than two minutes gone by in the third. However, the Sonics saw its big lead trimmed down to 10, 55-45, as Prince Factor anchored a Rollers 1 fight-back. Factor scored all but 18 points in Rollers 1’s 20-3 spurt in the next seven minutes of the third canto, making all kinds of shots to keep his team in the game.

The Sonics lost the big lead, as only Eric Dela Rosa made it to the board in that exchange with his 3-point play. However, the Sonics earned a string of 4 points in the last 4.5 seconds of the third frame and restore order on the squad as Rollers 1 had late lapses. Rollers 1’s first error came after Dela Rosa split his free throws, as Mike Arciaga threw an errant inbound pass which Gerald Flores intercepted. Flores then fed Bryle Alegre for a point-blanked shot and the latter also drew a foul on Mike Espinosa. Alegre completed the and-1 play, giving the Sonics more distance, 59-45, entering the fourth period.

Rollers 1 never recovered from those late errors, while the Sonics kicked of the final frame with a short 8-2 spurt to bring the lead back to 20, 67-47. Dela Rosa scored 6 of those 8 markers, as he muscled his way in the paint against his lanky defenders and it was cruise control for the Sonics from thereon.

With Dela Rosa manning the paint and drawing help from fellow bruisers Bryle Alegre and Jun Javier, the Sonics ruled the battle inside and scored a bundle off their pick-and-roll plays. Forwards Gerald Flores and Mark Ogasawara helped out, too while the backcourt duo of Jack Aranda and Sean Rabasto also caused problems for Rollers 1.

Rabasto hit early triples, while Aranda kept on attacking Rollers 1’s defense from outside. The duo combined for 30 points, while Dela Rosa finished with 17, and Alegre added 10. All the 10 Sonics players who played in the finals made it to the board.

Nine scored for Rollers 1, but only three—Factor, Kobee Mendoza, and Arciaga—nailed more than one field goal for the Joe Diaz-mentored squad. Factor had a game-high 26 points, while Mendoza and Arciaga chipped in 15 and 7, but the last two could not hit baskets in streaks.

Mendoza still struggled, offensively, despite making his first attempt—a triple from the right key. Actually, Rollers 1 started on the right foot, going 3-for-3 in the first two minutes of the match with Irvin Malonzo kicking off the match with a trey from the top key, followed by Mendoza’s rainbow shot, and Arciaga’s drive.

The two triples in the first quarter, however, were the only shots from downtown Rollers 1 converted, as they muffed one attempt after another in the remaining minutes of the game. Rollers 1 had difficulty executing their offense against the Sonics’ defense. The Sonics played zone, but were quick rotating back on defense, preventing Rollers 1 shooters from getting open looks at the basket. The eventual champions’ defense also made it hard for Rollers 1 to make entry passes, as the Sonics pressured the ball recipient each time Rollers 1 swung the ball over.

On offense, the Sonics capitalized on their height advantage. Rollers 1 gave away only a few inches against Sonics’ frontliners, but Tudela’s wards were beefier and often managed to bulldoze their way into the basket. The Sonics’ inside game was complemented by Rabasto and Aranda’s outside shooting and occasional baseline attack from Jaymark De Guzman.

Meanwhile, Dream Team won the battle for third place after routing the Ol’Aces, 62-46.

Finals
Sonics 88–Aranda 20, Dela Rosa 17, Alegre 10, Rabastos 10, Javier 6, Ogasawara 6, De Guzman 6, Manzano 5, Villanueva 2.

Rollers 1 64–Factor 26, Mendoza 15, Arciaga 7, Iglecias 3, De Leon 3, Malonzo 3, Camacho 2, Fidelino 2, Espinosa 1.

Scoring by quarters: 21-14, 44-23, 59-45, 88-64.

Consolation
Dream Team 62–Francisco 21, Darag 16, E. Borja 9, Kwon 7, D. Deleon Guerrero 5, I. Borja 4, F. Deleon Guerrero 2.

Ol’Aces 46–Castillo 18, De Luna 10, Miller 4, Monte 3, Nakashima 2, Leonardo Cristobal 1.

Scoring by halves: 29-26, 62-46.