Blue Haus’s Marlon De Dios takes the contested fadeaway shot during the open division championship game of the Legends Sports Association Invitational Basketball League at the Koblerville gym on Sunday.
Blue Haus’s Ivan De Vero gets fouled as he goes up for the shot during the open division championship game of the Legends Sports Association Invitational Basketball League at the Koblerville gym on Sunday.
BLUE Haus, which claimed the masters division title, outlasted the #2 seed Chang Ming Market, 64-62, to clinch the open division championship of the Legends Sports Association Invitational Basketball League at the Koblerville gym on Sunday.
It was a very physical game from start to finish with Blue Haus constantly attacking inside to draw several fouls which put Chang Ming into foul trouble in the opening quarter.
Thanks to the reliable free-throw shots of Ivan De Vero and Nate Mateo’s clutch three-pointer, Blue Haus seized the lead, 14-9.
In the second quarter, Chang Ming’s BJ Palacios and Mark Ferrer drained a triple each and gave Blue Haus a taste of their own medicine by drawing fouls to chip away at the deficit.
However, Chang Ming failed to stop Blue Haus’s productivity as Douglas Schmidt and Marlon De Dios fired consecutive shots to maintain a safe distance, 33-27.
Blue Haus continued to hold all the cards in third canto, thanks to Kelvin Fitial, Elmer Esdrelon and Schmidt to further extend the deficit, 52-44.
But Chang Ming never gave up the fight, and with Ferrer and Don Brennan connecting crucial triples while the rest of their team mates chipping in their fair share, they eventually closed the gap and took the lead, 62-61, in the final quarter.
Chang Ming, however, failed to keep their hands to themselves allowing Blue Haus’s Esdrelon and De Vero to regain control from the charity line, 64-62.
Chang Ming had the ball in the last five seconds of the game, but missed the shot and had to settle for defeat.
In the battle for third place, JTM Saipan triumphed over NAPA Auto Parts, 87-69.
Awards
This season’s mythical team awardees are Douglas Schmidt and Preston Basa — Best Guards; Jonel Broncano and Marlon De Dios — Best Forwards; Juan Camacho — Best Center; and Blue Haus’s Dan Chan — Best Coach.
Basa also earned the season MVP award while Ivan De Vero was named the Finals MVP.
Taking home the Sportsmanship Award was Pepoy’s Café.
