SJI SBP squad alongside Sports Coordinator Dennis Coo, Team Manager Alex Lim, Coaches Jake Azucena, Ireneo Morales and Rey Pandoro pose after winning the Milo Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) Visayas Regional Championship last October 23, 2011 at the Capiz gym in Roxas, Capiz. CONTRIBUTED Photo
ST. John’s Institute (SJI) Baby Falcons avenged their elimination round defeat over Ateneo de Iloilo as they outplayed the latter squad, 48-32 and captured the crown of the Milo Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) Visayas Regional Championship last October 23, 2011 at the Capiz gym in Roxas, Capiz.
The SJI win broke the 18-year regional title drought and earned them the shot to the National Championship in Zamboanga City on November 19-20, hoping to improve their 3rd place national finals finish achieved back in 1993.
Francis De Asis paced the Baby Falcons with 18 points, including 14 points in the pivotal 3rd quarter where SJI posted a commanding 41-25 cushion entering the final period.
The Ilonggos took the opening period behind Dave Magbanua’s 8 points for a 10 to 8 quarter lead even as Donn Spencer Lim scored 6 points for SJI.
But SJI overtook Ateneo at the break 21-18 buoyed by a balance offense from Emman Go, Kish Suarez and Ian Japzon.
Ateneo’s offense sputtered in the 2nd half as the Ilonggos can only muster 14 points and were singlehandedly outscored by the 18 points output of De Asis.
Even as SJI only scored 7 points in the payoff quarter however Iloilo was also held down with only Simon Kevin Ong as the lone bright spot for Ateneo delivering 5 points of the team’s 7 total quarter output.
Backstopping De Asis were Lim with 8 points; Go 5 while Japzon, Suarez and Anton Albayda contributed with 4 points each, Kyle Chua had 3 points and Andrei Lechoncito with 2.
Meanwhile, Magbanua and Ong shot 8 and 7 points, respectively to lead Ateneo as James Jambaro and Hector Sevilla delivered 3 points apiece while Sandro Soriano, Leandro Denila, John Abanero, Bon Guadalupe and Qian Martinez nailed 2 points each and Franz Diaz with a point.
Back in the elimination round, the Jake Azucena-mentored SJI overcame their first two assignments against Sacred Heart-Ateneo De Cebu, 48-34 and CPC-Roxas, 66-27, before diminishing against Ateneo De Iloilo in overtime, 56-52.
In that match against Iloilo, SJI has almost swept the elimination round but the Ateneans scored on a 3-point play with 2 seconds left forcing overtime.
Ateneo took advantage of the absence of 3 SJI’s front court players, who fouled out in the regulation period, to notch the win.
Ateneo was also awarded 41 free throws with Michael Zabala getting the lion’s share of 16 charities in the 4th quarter and OT period alone.
A triple tie ensued among SJI, Ateneo De Iloilo and Cebu, with Cebu beating Iloilo, 37-35, but dropped out of the finals’ contention after getting a lower quotient.
On the other hand, SJI missed to book a double championship after its Passerelle team bowed down to the powerhouse and defending champion Sacred Heart Ateneo De Cebu, 65-50.
SJI Passerelle reached the finals after routed CPC-Roxas, 72-39 and outplayed Sun Yat Sen Iloilo, 65-59 in the elimination round. JEROME S. GALUNAN JR.
(WATCHMEN DAILY JOURNAL)
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