Finals Game Video: GK Warriors vs Baltimore Dragons

Video by Ronnie Lucindo

Battle of the Champions

The pulsating and heart-pounding, down-the-wire championship game between GK Warriors and Baltimore Dragons has kept everyone abuzz about the possibility of a return bout.

Well, we have good news for all our Palaro fans. Keep your fingers crossed because there may be a possible return bout after all!!! And it's not next month or next year, but this coming Saturday, August 22, 2009. Yes, you heard us right! The possibilities are ripe for a GK Warriors versus Baltimore Dragons rematch at the FIRST PAAD PALARO INVITATIONALS - BATTLE OF THE CHAMPIONS, where the Best of Palaro League are paired against the Best of our Neighboring Leagues.

Picture this for a moment: GK Warriors, Baltimore Dragons and the PAAD Palaro All-Star Team clash against FABA Metro DC of nearby Washington DC, AAU Ronin of nearby Philadelphia, and 25 for Life Basketball Club of Toronto, Canada. These teams will play a One-Round Robin of elimination matches, a TOP FOUR semi-finals match and a CHAMPIONSHIP match, all in one day! If by stroke of luck, Baltimore Dragons and the GK Warriors emerge as the top 2 teams, then we have a rematch in our hands.

And if that's not enough excitement to anticipate for, well, what about this? We threw in a PLUS by inviting a local band, PADE IN FULL, headed by SFC's Jericho Ponce to keep the mood upbeat. His band of eclectic rockers will surely add luster to an already exciting game day as they ROCK THE PAL with a mix of dance and rock fusion, all in between matches.

This is a ONE-DAY EVENT only organized by PAAD and its PALARO SPORTS COMMITTEE to benefit the PALARO FANS. Yes, this is for you and so BE THERE WHEN IT HAPPENS!

This coming Saturday, gates open at 9:00 AM to welcome our Guest Teams at the PAL Hockessin Gym. Mark your calendars and invite family and friends in this very rare invitational!

See you there!

GK Warriors shades Baltimore 46-43 in thriller, wins championship

Reported by Jun Rana

Ian Clemente, Yogi Veranga and Ryan De Gracia scored five crucial points in the last one minute of the game and then saw Isaac Brooks of Baltimore Dragons missed a desperation game tying three pointer as time expired to give the Gawad Kalinga (GK) Warriors a pulsating 46-43 victory over the Dragons and the championship of the PAAD Palaro 2009 basketball championship.

Veranga, the Warrior’s top scorer and a powerful rebounder was awarded as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). Ian Clemente was given the nod as the championship game MVP for his defensive efforts which thwarted several offensive aggression of the Dragons in the basket. It was also Ian Clemente who gave the lead back to the Warriors 43-42 with time down to 40 seconds.

In a game that lived to all the hypes, drama and high expectation, both teams played one of the most thrilling and memorable games in the history of the PAAD Palaro. It was the first time in the tournament that the Warriors were tested in a game by an opponent with equal strength, who gave them all they could handle and who almost stole the thunder from them. But in the end it was the Warriors heart of the champion and steely resolve that won them the championship.

The Warriors were off to a flying start as they raced to an early 8-0 lead in the first half behind Ryan De Gracia who earlier hit two straight three pointers. The Warriors maintained the lead at 10-3 on a basket by Chris Clemente but Brooks answered back with a triple of his own to cut the lead to 10-6, with 16 minutes remaining in the first half. However, Brooks did not score again in the first half as he missed several three point attempts as the Warriors defenders took turns in guarding him.

With Veranga, Leo Yanogacio and Chris Clemente on the attack plus Ian Clemente anchoring the defense, the Warriors ignited a 13-8 blast to pad the lead to nine at 23-14, time down to 6 minutes. However, the Dragons kept coming back. With Glen Yap hitting a three pointer, the Warrior’s lead was reduced to six, at 25-19 with two minutes remaining. However, Veranga converted on a layup and Yanogacio, who had 4 rebounds in the first half, hit a triple to give the Warriors an 11 point halftime lead at 30-19.

At the start of the second half, unheralded Paco Estrada provided a spark for the Dragons with a follow up shot on a missed free throw by Jackie Borsotos, which cut the Warriors lead to eight at 30-22. Perhaps it was what the doctor ordered and a signal that the Dragons were going to fight up to the finish line. Coach Ed Padilla made his offensive adjustments to the game, and the second half saw the Dragons slashing more in the lane. Brooks abandoned his three point shooting to score more with layups or free throws along with Raymond Latogo and Borsotos. However with four minutes remaining the Warriors were still on top by 10, 41-31 and up to this point, it was Curtis Clemente teaming up with Veranga in answering the Dragons fire. Meanwhile, Ian Clemente led the defense and Yanogacio led the rebound department to prevent a big run by the Dragons. At that point, the Warriors were also outrebounding the Dragons, and they ended up with a 17-7 edge in rebounding in the entire game. However, the Dragons have the edge in speed which compensated for their rebounding weakness.

At this juncture, and in a three minute span, the Dragons who never seemed to tire unleashed an 11-0 explosion behind Borsotos, Brooks and Latogo most of them on penetrating layups to grab the lead at 42-41 with one minute remaining. During that period, Yanogacio the Warriors top rebounder committed his fifth foul which sent him out of the game. He also incurred a technical foul for arguing with the referee. Also, both teams missed pressure packed free throws which underline the intensity and high stake of the game.

In the ensuing play, Ian Clemente missed two free throws that could have given back the lead for the Warriors. Latogo of the Dragons then committed a travel violation with 40 seconds remaining. In the next play, Ian Clemente drove against a Dragon defender and converted on layup to give the lead back to the Warriors 43-42.

With 30 seconds remaining and both teams on the penalty situation, Brooks rushed to the basket and attempted a jump shot over the Warrior’s John Llave but missed. Ian Clemente got the rebound and was immediately fouled by Latogo, time down to 19.7 seconds. Ian Clemente however missed both free throws. And in the scramble for the rebound, Veranga grabbed the loose ball and hit an under goal shot to give the Warriors a 45-42 lead. With 11 seconds remaining, Yap of the Dragons committed a costly travel violation after an inbound pass by Borsotos. In the inbounds play, Latogo immediately fouled De Gracia. De Gracia converted only the second free throw for a 46-42 Warriors lead, with 9 seconds remaining.

In the ensuing possession, the Warriors fouled a jump shooting Brooks, time down to 1.7 seconds. Brooks hit only the second free throw to reduce the lead to 46-43 for the Warriors. On the Warriors inbound pass, Brooks stole the ball and unloaded a three point shot which held all the fans breathless... motionless. The shot hit the rim and did not go in to the delight of the Warrior fans who jumped for joy. Thus, the Warriors won the PAAD Basketball Championship for the second straight year and with an unbeaten record. And for Captain Herb Monsalud and his charges, they won the championship the hardest way, yet the sweetest way. Thanks to the Baltimore Dragons who provided the Warriors with a hard fought and a classic match, one which will always be remembered for ages.

Box Score –

GK Warriors:
Veranga, Yogi, 16; DeGracia, Ryan, 10; Clemente, Curtis, 6; Yanogacio, Leo, 5; Clemente, Chris; 4; Clemente, Ian, 3; Clemente, Coco, 2; De Guzman, Carlo, 0; Llave, John, 0; De Guzman, Ryan, 0; Cardenio, Dads, 0; Monsalud, Herb,0

Baltimore, Dragons:
Brooks, Isaac, 15; Latogo, Raymund, 9; Borsotos, Jackie, 8; Yap, Glen, 5; Goasta, Mistek, 4; Estrada, Paco,2; Siason, James, 0; Gumatay, Souk, 0; Concepcion, Julio, 0; Concepcion, Frank, 0; Delgado, Frank, 0; Borromeo, Samuel, 0; Persia, Tads, 0; Edades, Edgar,0; Rosario, Alvin, 0

The FINALS: Warriors vs. Dragons

POWER VERSUS FIRE

Watch the video trailer between GK Warriors
and the Baltimore Dragons. Click here.

We've come to the most awaited game of all - The Championships. This year has produced two of the best teams to clash in the Palaro Finals.

The first team in the finals duo is last year's champions, the GK Warriors. The mighty Warriors, who brandishes an 8-0 score card, remains undefeated since the 2008 season. The Warriors crew look formidable with this year's addition of MVP candidate, "The Stallion" - Yogi Veranga. Not too long ago, the GK Warriors were the whipping boys of the Palaro League. But after last year's team buildup, the Warriors are now whipping their opponents with might and much gusto. The Warriors have their eyes on a two-peat, the second step towards a Grand Slam next year, if they hurdle the Dragons.

Will the power of the Warriors douse the Dragon's fire?

The new face in the finals is none other than the Baltimore Dragons, who finished the division and playoff games with a 6-2 card. The Dragons who sputtered in the first two games, suddenly came alive by quietly inching up the ladder board. The meteoric rise of the Dragons in the last six rounds is a testament of the team's heart to go for the win. Led by Coad Ed Padilla in the sidelines and Isaac Brooks in the frontlines, the Baltimore-based Dragons are poised to upset the Warriors' journey for a two-peat. The Dragons role of Warriors-slayer is now their focus in the finals. And if they do succeed, smoke will billow amidst the Dragon's fire.

Will the Dragon's fire consume the Warriors' power?

Let the games begin!

F4: Baltimore Dragons stops Excel, 75 - 58, grabs finals seat.

Report by Jun Rana

With his team threatened in the first half by Dynamics Excel, Isaac Brooks unloaded his three point shooting ammunitions to power the Baltimore Dragons to a 75-58 win over Excel. With the win, the Dragons secured the first seat in finals of the 2009 PAAD Palaro Basketball Championship on August 15, and avenged an earlier round loss to Excel.

Coach Mike Sanchez charges of Excel could have not wished for a better start. Baskets by Will Imperial and Joe Miranda pushed Excel to an 8-0 lead, 18 minutes to go in the first half. The Dragons Coach Ed Padilla then took a timeout and the Dragons answered back with a 19-6 run including three rainbow shots from Brooks, and grabbed the lead at 19-14, 12 minutes remaining in the first half.

With heads up plays from Imperial and Will Barnes, Excel stayed toe to toe with the Dragons down by only two, 29-27 with 3 minutes remaining in the first half. However, Souk Gumatay connected on a layup and Brooks hit another triple to put the Dragons ahead 34-27, 2 minutes to go in the first half. After a basket by Excel in the next possession, Gumatay and Brooks hit back to back triples to end the half at 40-29 for the Dragons. By the end of the first half, Brooks, who electrified the fans with his three point shooting exhibition, already had 20 points for the Dragons.

In the second half, a layup by Miranda of Excel cut the lead of the Dragons to nine, 50-41 with 12 minutes remaining. However, this proved to be Excel’s last hurrah as Edgar Edades of the Dragons answered back with a triple for a 53-41 Dragons lead, time down to 10 minutes. At this stanza, Julio Concepcion and Frank Delgado of the Dragons took over the scoring chores from Brooks and ignited a 20-10 blast which put the game beyond recall at 73-51 for the Dragons, 2 minutes remaining in the game. It was in that decisive stretch that Miranda and Justin Mercado of Excel tried to stop the Dragons onslaught, but to no avail and to the dismay of the Excel fans, one of the loudest in the arena.

Brooks top scored for the Dragons with 24 points including 6 triples, followed by Delgado with 14. For Excel, the top scorers were Mercado, Miranda, Imperial and Barnes with 15, 14, 12 and 11 points, respectively. In the battle of the boards, the Dragons outrebounded Excel, 16-10.

The Dragons will now face the unbeaten GK Warriors who routed them, 99-54 in the opening day. The Dragons however is now a much improved team and has won their last six games of the tournament in convincing fashions. The stage is now set for a dream finale and high drama on Saturday, August 15 between the powerhouse GK Warriors and the surging Baltimore Dragons. And the basketball fans will surely be in for a treat.

Game 8: The Final Four

From the Magic 8, we're now down to the Final Four. While many observers have cast their predictions over their favorites, there is still a lingering thought that maybe a dark horse will emerge in the finals.

Here are the highlights of the Final-Four games:

GK vs. WSA

Wala Sa Ayos has been playing the role of "David" in the last 4 rounds of their pairings. Game after game, WSA was always voted to be booted out by our blog-surveys. Amazingly, they have stood tall after each crucial game beaming with victory smiles. Their last loss was in Game 3 against MARICAS Oriental Store, since then the breaks have been with WSA.

But their next hurdle will be the most daunting of all, against crowd-favorite, GK Warriors. Man-for-man, GK Warriors appear to be superior in every match-up, but in the area of "Spirited Hearts", Wala Sa Ayos has the edge. WSA has proven that whatever lack in manpower, they filled it in with a lot of heart.

Will the WSA team sling the biggest "GOLIATH" of all?

Dynamic Excel vs. Baltimore Dragons

After dropping their first 2 games, the Baltimore Dragons cleaned their acts together and won the next 6 rounds. In those 2 lost games, one of them came from the Dynamic Excel team, who won by a squeaker point in the dying minutes, 63 -62. Tounges kept wagging after that game as observers noted how the Dragons could have won it with a complete line-up.


On the other hand, Dynamic Excel is rarin' to go and hungry to face the GK Warriors in the finals. They won't give the Dragons an easy time, that's for sure. They know they're facing an explosive Dragons squad who can shoot it from the rainbow stripe as well as penetrate Dynamic's stonewall defense. If the first meeting between the Dragons and Dynamic Excel is a good indication of what to expect, then this game will be decided down to the dying seconds.


Will the Dynamic Excel team make it to Finals enroute to a possible 2-peat year (FACAA & Paad Palaro champions)?


Or, will the Dragons push to Excel team aside and say, "try again next year boys!!"?


Be there when it happens!!!

G7: Baltimore Dragons stops Team Force, 79 - 57

Report by Jun Rana

Isaac Brooks proved to be a one man wrecking crew, delivering 32 points including 6 triples that powered Baltimore Dragons past Team Force 79-57 and a berth in the semifinal round of the playoffs. Dragons Coach Padilla’s charges also took advantage of the absence of Force top scorer Marcus Chiu in securing the win. The loss eliminated Team Force in the playoffs.

It was a tight game until the last five minutes of the first half. With Brooks leading the attack and with able support from Frank Concepcion, the Dragons had a 26-25 lead with 8 minutes remaining in the first half. Team Force managed to stay close to the Dragons behind the heads up plays of Michael Talag and Ferdinand Mendoza. However, Brooks and Concepcion initiated a 10-2 run that gave the Dragons some breathing room, and a 36-27 halftime lead. At halftime, Brooks had already 18 points or half of the Dragons output.

In the second half, Brooks and Samuel Borromeo triggered a 17-12 attack that padded the lead to 53-39, with 11 minutes remaining in the game. Team Force behind, Anthony Alvarez, Talag, and Ferdinand Mendoza tried to stay in the game but could not get enough offense going and was clearly missing its top scorer Chiu. With Brooks on the attack and having 4 triples in the second half, the Dragons further increased the lead to 70-51 with 5 minutes remaining. From this stanza, both teams traded baskets until the final score of 79-57.

Samuel Borromeo and Frank Concepcion contributed 12 points each for the Dragons. Alvarez top scored for Force with 16 points and Talag added 15.

The Dragons battles Dynamic Excel in the semifinals. It could proved to be an intriguing match-up as Excel defeated the Dragons earlier in the elimination round encounter.

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Box Scores

Baltimore Dragons:
Brooks, Isaac,32; Borromeo, Samuel, 12; Conception, Frank, 12; Borsotos, Jackie, 8; Edades, Edgar, 6; Conception, Julio, 5; Rosario, Alvin, 2; Goasta, Mitek, 2

Team Force:

Alvarez, Anthony, 16; Talag, Michael, 15; Mendoza, Ferdinand, 10; Bune, Jason, 7; Bacal, Djern, 5; Bacal, Devin, 2; Dela Cruz, Jonathan, 2

Game 7: Road to the Finals

View the Video Highlights of Games 5 & 6. Click here.
View updated Photos for Game 6. Click here.

As the games wind down to the Magic 8 enroute to the Final Four, intensity has pervaded the matches. The biggest twist coming to the second round of the play-offs is the elimination of last year's runner-up, TFC Mainline and the surprising entry of Team Force to the Magic 8. Will there be new twists and turns in Game Seven that will surprise us?

Here are the highlights for Game Seven:

• Despite their loss to Red Bulls in the last game, Casa Rap gets a new lease on life on their hopes of a first finals appearance as they face the mighty GK Warriors, who have yet to lose a game since 2008. Will the Antonio-led Bomb Shells ignite the league with a monumental upset?
  
• Maricas, who suffered its first loss to Team Force, gets a second chance at their hopes to enter the Final Four by facing powerhouse Dynamic Excel-Phi. While the odds may be against Maricas, a win will solidify their claim as the Pilipino-division leaders.


• Former Palaro champions, Red Bulls (2007) and WSA (2006) square it off in the "Battle of Champions". Both teams have lingered in the middle ranks this season and their steady plays have brought them at the brink of a Finals showdown. When the smoke clears, who will be in the Final Four?


• Team Force, who was left for dead by the blog voters, springs to life as they face rainbow artists, Baltimore Dragons. The Dragons who lost its first two games got their bearings going by winning 4-straight. Will Team Force douse the Dragons' fire and enter the Final Four?
  

Who will be in the Final Four? Vote now on our blog surveys!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

PAAD PALARO YOUTH BASKETBALL

PAAD Palaro 2009 is proud to launch its first PALARO Youth Basketball this coming Saturday, August 1, 2009. Youth games start at 11:30 AM alongside some festivities to warm-up the playoff games. Please join us in the fun as we support our Fil-American youth!!

G6: Baltimore Dragons routs Exit Realty, 96 - 54

Report by: June Rana

Hot shooting Isaac Brooks and Julio Concepcion combined for 59 points as Baltimore Dragons slay Exit Realty 96-54 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. The Dragons dominated Exit in the second half after a tight first half, with the Dragons leading by only 9 at 42-33.

In the second half, the Dragons put on a 3 point shooting exhibition converting 7 triples in the second half for 21 points, four of them coming from the Isaac Brooks who scored a game high of 32 points. It was also the scoring tandem of Brooks and Julio Concepcion that put the Dragons to a commanding 65-40 lead with 9 minutes remaining. Another Concepcion, Frank contributed 11 points in the game.

Scott MacInnes topscored for Exit Realty with 23 points, followed by Andrian Bondao with 15 points.

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Box Scores:

Dragons: Brooks, 32; Conception, 27; Conception, F., 11; Barsotos, 9; Gumatay, 7; Mitch, 6; Rosario, 2; Edades, 2

Exit: McInnes, 23; Bondao, 15; Sta. Ana, 6; Pineda, 4; Makasakit, 4; Madeja, 2

G5: Dragons run rings around a Lancioni-less Blazers, 77 - 42.

Baltimore Dragons flexed its dragon muscles by taking advantage of a Lancioni-less Elkton Blazers to notch their 3rd straight win, 77 - 42. Julio Concepcion exploded with a game high, 31 points, to lead an early 18-5 blitz that spelled doom for the Blazers.

Julio Concepcion, who scored 10 points in the first half, helped the Dragons increase their lead at halftime to 38 - 19. Julio continued his scoring rampage in the second half by connecting 21 more points, with 6 of his baskets coming from the 3-point area. He also played an all-around game by snatching 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

The hapless Blazers anchored its scoring woes on Jim Reynolds who dished out 16 markers. So dominant were the Dragons that they ended up with a 35 point win.

- With reports from Jun Rana and Scribbs.

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Box Scores:
Dragons: Concepcion, 31; Latogo, 12; Edades, 11; Gumatay, 11; Concepcion, F., 6; Barsotos, 4
Blazers: Reynolds, 16; Gurango, 13; Echvestre, 5; Dela Cruz; 4; Jirkowsky, 2; Lalicon, 2.

G4: Baltimore Dragons spews fire to melt Force, 60 - 55

With the Dragons struggling to keep a complete roster, Coach Ed Padilla pulls another ace up his sleeve by fielding in jersey no. 5, Julio Concepcion, to keep the Dragons within striking distance of Team Force. Concepcion readily took the cudgels for the Dragons by dishing in 18 points, 12 of which, coming from the three-point area, all in the first half of play.

Team Force, on the other hand, anchored its offense on Simon Wong's double-double performance as he pumped in 16 points, 12 rebs., 2 blocked shots and a single assist that almost eclipsed the Dragons' fire. The first half of play was so close that Team Force ended it with a 2-point lead. Realizing that Concepcion was spewing fire, Team Force adjusted their defense to silence Concepcion in the second half. And they did just that, as Concepcion struggled to get his bearings together with only 1 rebound to contribute in the final half.

But another Dragon was let loose by Coach Ed in the 2nd half to lift the Baltimore squad to its second win. Isaac Brooks (12), who coasted through the first half with 7 points, exploded with another 11 points to break Team Force's defense. While Brooks led scoring in the second half, it was really the bench scoring of 4 other Dragons that kept them in the game. The Dragons top-rebounder, Souk Gumatay (4) drilled in 9 points; Frank Concepcion (22), who was scoreless in the first half, waxed hot with another 8 points in the second half; and clutch shooters, Jackie Barsotos (23) and Paco Estrada (24), contributed 4 and 3 points respectively.

All told, the Baltimore Dragons spewed fire that melted team Force to its 3rd loss in 4 outings. The Dragons improve their standing to 2-2 win-loss card, tying them with 3 other teams in the 4th spot over-all and 3rd ranked in division standings.


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Box Scores:
Dragons: Concepcion, J., 18; Brooks, 18; Gumatay, 9; Concepcion, F., 8; Barsotos, 4; Estrada, 3.
Force: Wong, 16; Talag, 13; Chiu, 9; Dela Cruz, 5; Acuna, 4; Bacal, 3; Bune, 3; Maltman, 2.