SEMIFINAL MATCHES IN PALARO INVITATIONAL
GK Warriors and Toronto 25ForLife fought for their dear lives before pulling out heart stopping victories over the Baltimore Dragons and FABA Washington DC Metro to enter the championship finals of the First 2009 PAAD Palaro One-Day Invitational Basketball Tournament. The GK Warriors rallied from the brink of defeat to beat the Dragons in overtime, 54-46 while the Toronto 25ForLife survived the tough challenge of FABA DC Metro, winning 33-30.
The GK Warriors had taken an early 11-5 lead on baskets by Chris Clemente and Curtis Clemente. However the Dragons answered back with a 15-8 explosion triggered by Isaac Brooks, Souk Gumatay and Raymund Latogo to take the lead at 20-19 after two quarters. In that stretch Brooks and Latogo hit two triples while Gumatay had two penetrations to the baskets to delight of the crowds at the arena.
In the third quarter the GK Warriors behind Ian Clemente and Curtis Clemente started like a house on fire with a 9-0 explosion to give the GK Warriors a 28-20 lead with six minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, the never say die Dragons kept coming back and stayed dangerously close to the GK Warriors. Led by the three point shooting of Latogo, Brooks and Gumatay the Dragons reduced the lead to 33-30, time down to one minute in the third quarter. Aside from scoring, Latogo had effectively distributed the ball to his Dragon teammates. The GK Warriors on the other hand were led by Yogi Veranga in answering the Dragons fire with critical shots most of them layups in that stretch. After a Warriors miss and with five seconds remaining, Latogo dribbled the ball at the top of the key and scored another three point shot to tie the game at 33 all at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Brooks determined to carry his team to victory had the Dragons on the lead at 38-37, his last basket coming on another triple with 3 minutes and 23 seconds remaining. After a miss by the Warriors Brooks acted as a decoy on a three point attempt and passed the ball inside to Paco Estrada to push the lead of the Dragons to 40-37.
Brooks then took advantage of another Warrior miss and hit another triple to pad the lead to 43-37 time down to two minutes and thirty eight seconds. The GK Warriors quickly answered back with a basket to reduce the lead to 43-39. After a Dragons miss, Ian Clemente made a three point shot to reduce the lead to one at 43-42. With 33 seconds remaining, Latogo hit two free throws to give the Dragons a 45-42 lead. However, Veranga drove to the basket and made a layup shot to reduce the Dragon’s lead to one at 45-44 with 17 seconds remaining. Huynh of the Dragons who was quickly fouled by the GK Warriors hit a free throw in the ensuing play to give the Dragons a 46-44 lead, 12 seconds remaining.
When the chips are down, the GK Warriors have proven time and time again that they have their reservoir of inner strength that can pull them through. In the ensuing play, another hero of the GK Warriors Chris Clemente hit a jumper as time expired to send the game to overtime at 46 all.
In overtime, perhaps deflated by the GK Warriors comeback, the Dragons offered no resistance as the Warriors went on an 8-0 burst, this time on a triple by Dustin Coloso and clutch free throws shooting by JC Albano to seal the win, 54-46.
The game between the teams from Toronto Canada and Washington DC Metro proved to be a battle of evenly matched teams with powerful players from each side. The scores were close from the beginning with no teams leading by more than three points.
In the first half the three point shooting of JP Albano with help from James Forrester and Ryan Dawinan carried them to a 19-17 lead after the end of the first of quarter. Team Manager Ken Mendoza and his FABA Metro DC on the other hand were led by the aggressive plays of Steve Proctor and Tony Lee.
Proctor, who is a dominant force inside the painted area, powered FABA DC Metro to a 27-26 lead with three minutes remaining in the game. However, Toronto 25forLIfe on the strong plays of Forrester and Dean Labayen finished the game on a 7-3 run to clinched the win over the FABA DC Metro, 33-30.
The fans at the semifinal games also enjoyed an added attraction with the wonderful singing of the PADE In Full Group led by Mike Alegarbes, Ron Borja, Jerich , Jet and its other singers who performed for free to the delight of the cheering fans.
Box Scores:
Semifinal No. 1:
GK Warriors – 54
Clemente, Ian, 12; Clemente, Chris, 10; Clemente, Curtis, 9; Veranga, Yogi, 7; Albano, JC, 5; Skievaski, Kevin, 4; Coloso, Dustin, 3; Llave, John,2; De Guzman, Ryan,2; DeGuzman, Carlo,0; Clemente, Coco, 0; Antes, JB(DNP); Monsalud, Herb, 0; Cardenio, Dads, 0; Dela Torre, Sonny, 0
Baltimore Dragons - 46
Brooks, Isaac, 16; Latogo, Raymund, 13; Gumatay, Souck, 8; Huynh, 5; Estrada, Paco, 2; Teledo, 2; Goasta, Mitch, 0; Jovenal, Leonard, 0; Babon, Jan, 0; Imperial, William,0
Semifinal No. 2:
Toronto 25ForLife - 33
Forrester, James, 9; Albano, JC, 8; Labayen, Dean, 6; Manlucu JR, 4; Dawinan, Ryan, 3; Santa Maria, Jeremiah,3; Semira, Mike, 0; Pompei, Giuseppe,0
FABA of Metro DC - 30
Proctor, Steve, 14; Narvacan, Mark, 6; Lee, Tony, 4; Arellano, Inigo, 4; Lee, 2; Gavierres, Anthony, 0; Aure, Ryan, 0; Lim, 0; Mendoza, Ken,0
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