Sonics, Lob City enter finals

The Sonics’ Djay Ong runs into the defense of Rollers 2’s Chris Aneo while other Rollers 2 players try to step into the play during the second half of their semis game in the Tan Holdings holiday caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The 670 Sonics and Lob City eliminated their respective foes in contrasting fashion to barge into the finals of the 2015 Tan Holdings Christmas Basketball Tournament last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The Sonics outclassed Rollers 2, 40-35, to notch the first finals berth in the boys U19 division, while Lob City romped past Panty Droppers, 60-36, to set a title duel against Sun Palace, which earlier downed Mt. Carmel School, 46-40 in the other Final Four pairing.

Djay Ong led the Sonics in the low-scoring semis game, recording 12 points. He was the lone player on his team to hit double figures. Jeffrey Castro, Gerald Flores, and Jun Javier were the three other Sonics players to make more than one field goal against Rollers 2 and they combined for 18 markers to back up Ong.

The Sonics were seeded first in the playoffs, but had a hard time against the No. 4-ranked Rollers 2, whose pesky defense rattled the former in the first half. The Sonics had the ceiling advantage, but could not get the ball into the paint without a legitimate guard as Castro is more of a shooting guard and Bryan De Guzman, and J.P. River are still lacking experience to quarterback for their squad.

Without good ball handlers, the Sonics big men were forced to bring the ball down and on several occasions they either committed turnovers or Rollers 2 players stole the possessions and converted them into baskets.

Chris Aneo and Aaron Ogumoro scored most of those points off the Sonics’ errors in the first half to give Rollers 2 a shaky 20-18 halftime lead.

Rollers 2 went on to continue playing pressured defense against the Sonics, but the latter settled down and finally found ways to get the ball into their players in the shaded Lane. Ong got a bundle in the second half after making only two field goals in the first. Flores also contributed with his uncontested point-blanked shot off Michael Espinosa’s no-look pass against two Rollers defenders giving the Sonics their biggest lead, 37-26, under three minutes left in the game.

Rollers 2 lost the lead and eventually the game as it failed to complement its good defense with a steady offense. It was held to one field goal and 6 points in the first 16 minutes and change of the second half. Kenji Abobo hit the lone field goal for Rollers 2, while Jude Tengcho added three free throws and Aneo had a split.

Ogumoro gave Rollers 2 its second field goal and scored 2 more points from the foul line, while Abobo had back-to-back field goals, however these were not enough as they made these with less than two minutes left in the game and the Sonics were already poised to win the match and advance to the finals.

The Sonics will battle the division championship against the winner of the Rollers 1-Ol’Aces semis game this Thursday. The finals will be played at 7:30pm after the 6pm title showdown between Sun Palace and Lob City.

Lob City eased its way into the finals after pulling away in the second half.

Ahead by only 3 after the first half, 24-21, Lob City turned on the heat in the final frame as it more than doubled Panty Droppers’ output, 36-17. Kyla Ito and Jeralyn Castillo teamed up in the breakaway scoring 14 and 10 points, respectively.

Ito ended up with a game-high 25 markers, while Jeralyn chipped in 18. Friendly Joy Pena was the lone twin digit scorer for Panty Droppers with her 10 markers.

Boys U19 Game
Sonics 40— Ong 12, Castro 7, Flores 6, Javier 5, Espinosa 3, Tekopua 2, Fidelino 2, Lansang 2, Borromeo.

Rollers 2 34— Ogumoro 11, Aneo 9, Abobo 6, Tengco 3, Deleon Guerrero 3, Hudkins 2.

Scoring by halves: 18-20, 40-34.

Women’s Game
Lob City 60 — Ito 25, Jeralyn Castillo 18, Alegre 8, Jeraldine Castillo 5, M. Kautz 2, Wally 2.

Panty Droppers 38 — Pena 10, Garon 8, Francisco 8, Rogoyawa 6, Lumabi 4, Valino 2.

Scoring by halves: 24-21, 60-38.