Finals Match, PAAD Invitationals

GK WARRIORS NIPS TORONTO 25FORLIFE,
WINS PAAD INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Reported by Jun Rana

GK Warriors survived two epic battles, the finals against Toronto 25ForLife of Canada and the overtime win in the semifinals against the Baltimore Dragons to capture the first 2009 PAAD Palaro Invitational One-Day Basketball Tournament. Thus, the GK Warriors completed a hat trick by winning both the 2009 Invitational Basketball Tournament and the rigorous nine day 2009 PAAD Basketball League tournament.

The PAAD Invitational One-Day Basketball Tournament is a six-team tourney participated by the GK Warriors, Baltimore Dragons, PAAD All Star Selections, Toronto 25ForLife, FABA of Metro Washington,DC and Ronin from Philadelphia. In the semifinals, the GK Warriors beat the Dragons in overtime, 54-46 and Toronto 25ForLife edged FABA of Metro DC 33-30 to set the championship dream match between the two top seeded teams.

In the Championship game, Warrior player Dustin Coloso scored the go ahead jumper with 5 seconds left and Ian Clemente’s stonewall defense prevented a shot attempt by the Toronto 25ForLife in the ensuing play as the GK Warriors scored a nerve wracking come from behind victory, 32-31. Coloso made the shot with two pump fakes, and then leaned in to get away from a block attempt by Dean Labayen of Toronto 25ForLife. Coloso, the GK Warriors trigger man, was also adjudged the Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP). Coloso is the son of former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Tim Coloso of the famous Toyota Team.

The tournament was played with four quarters of eight minutes of basketball which explained the low scoring game for both teams. Coloso started the game with a three point shot to give the GK Warriors an early 3-0 lead. However baskets by Dean Labayen a former Pro-Baller himself and by James Forrester, a bright prospect for the Pro-Leagues, put Toronto 25ForLife up 6-3. One of the baskets of Forrester came from a spectacular dunk which electrified the fans who witnessed one of only few successful dunks (GK Warriors player Ian Clemente did a successful dunk against Elkton Blazers) in the 10 day PAAD Palaro regular and invitational tournaments.

Toronto 25ForLife, captained by Mike Semira and coached by Al Gregorio, played a torrid pace from thereon. Labayen, Forrester and JR Manlucu dropped a 12-6 bomb, mostly on layups and jump shots, to power Toronto 25ForLife to an 18-11 lead with a minute to go in the second quarter. However, the GK Warriors won’t give up and Coloso hit another triple to narrow the lead to four at 18-14. With a basket yet again from Labayen, the second quarter ended at 20-14 for Toronto 25ForLife.

PAAD League tournament MVP Yogi Veranga came alive at the start of the third quarter with a basket to reduce Toronto 25ForLife lead to four at 20-16. The biggest lead of Toronto 25ForLife came at 25-17 after back to back baskets, a lay up by Forrester and a three point shot by JP Albano. However, in a game more akin to chess of attacks and counterattacks, Veranga and Kevin Skievaski answered with baskets inside the paint to reduce the lead to 27-24 with six minutes to go in the fourth quarter. It was at this juncture that Warrior player Skievaski, a key contributor to the GK Warriors offense suffered a cut under the right eye which require stitches from a wayward elbow which gave the Warriors fans worried looks.

In the ensuing play, a follow up shot by Forrester and a jump shot by Labayen gave Toronto 25ForLife a 31-26 lead, time down to 4 minutes. It was from this point that free throw and field goal shootings deserted 25ForLife. JP Albano missed three crucial free throws down the stretch as 25ForLife went on a scoreless spell. With 41 seconds remaining in the game, Ian Clemente was fouled on the act of shooting a three point shot. Clemente made 2 of 3 free throws to narrow the gap to 31-28. Another miss by the Toronto team put the ball in the hands of Warrior JC (James Christopher)Albano, not related to Toronto's JP Albano, who was fouled with 32 seconds remaining. JC Albano made the two free throws to reduce the Toronto 25ForLife lead to one, 31-30. Toronto 25ForLife did not score in the next possession which set the stage for Coloso heroics. Coloso made a jumper in the last 5 seconds which enable the GK Warriors to finally take the lead 32-31, Ian Clemente made the crucial defense to keep the lead until the final buzzer sounded thus the GK Warriors made an improbable winning streak of 21-0 since 2008, a stunning record of winning streak in the annals PAAD Palaro history!

And for Captain Herb Monsalud and his charges, this championship is as equally sweet as compared with the PAAD League tournament championship which the Warriors won on August 15, 2009. For on this one, it is where the GK Warriors snatched victory away from the jaws of defeat. For Toronto 25ForLife, they were reflecting on what could have been, wondering what hit them in the last four minutes of the game and what they will do in the future to capture the championship which had eluded them by a hairline.

Box Scores:

GK Warriors - 32

Coloso, Dustin, 12; Veranga, Yogi, 7; Skievaski, Kevin 6; Clemente, Ian, 5; Albano, JC,2; Clemente, Chris, 0; Clemente, Curtis, 0; Clemente, Coco, 0; Llave, John,0; De Guzman, Ryan,0; Antes, JB (DNP); DeGuzman, Carlo 0; Monsalud, Herb, 0; Cardenio, Dads, 0; Dela Torre, Sonny, 0;

Toronto 25ForLife - 31

Labayen, Dean, 13; Forrester, James, 8; Manlucu JR, 7; Albano, JC, 3; Semira, Mike, 0; Dawinan, Ryan, 0; Santa Maria, Jeremiah,0; Pompei, Giuseppe,0

Semifinal Round, PAAD Invitationals

GK WARRIORS, TORONTO 25FORLIFE WINS TOUGH
SEMIFINAL MATCHES IN PALARO INVITATIONAL

Reported by Jun Rana

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

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!