Aranda and Salem’s prompt moves had undoubtedly stunned the Rollers and their coach Joe Diaz, as the Sonics turned the ball game around just when it seemed the power house Rollers already had a grip on the this year’s UBA title.
Savali Talalemotu was soaring high in the inside as he scattered 35 points to help keep the Rollers in the upper ground during most part of each half of the game.
The half-ender surge however, was in the hands of the Sonics. Although their defense was not as strong as the Rollers’ from the very start of the game, Sonics coach Jesse Tudela had his boys on the right track.
Aranda and Salem had back to back baskets to take the lead towards the end of the first half, but Andy Hambros’ pair of free shots tied the ball game before the half time buzzer wailed.
With Talalemoto keeping his scoring surge in the second half and Mike Mancao working in out on steals, the Rollers were in the lead again. Angelo Limes who spent a long time in the bench chipped in three points to help the Rollers stay afloat.
The Rollers were leading by six points in the last four minutes of the ball game but they were rushing it as if they were the ones trying to catch up.
The result: a lot turnovers and steals from the Sonics.
The most fatal flaw was when David Diaz got confused and made a jumper in the Sonics’ basket after securing a defensive rebound.
“That mistake gave us the sway of momentum,” coach Tudela said.
Coach Diaz already noticed that the Rollers were rushing it too much.
“That’s why I called a time out. They were not carrying out the play as planned,” said Diaz who called their first time out in the second half.
But that was already in the last 50 seconds of the game, when they were the ones trailing. The Rollers ended up trying to catch up in the final seconds of the game while the Sonics, kept gap all the way to the buzzer and secure the title in 2010 UBA’s U15 league.
The Sonics also put up a full-court defense with De Guzman and Aranda restraining the Rollers’ offense right at the back court to protect their lead and secure their eight-point championship victory, 69-60.
Aranda who scored 23 points won the most valuable player award while Salem got the most assists and steals awards.
Talalemotu was awarded the regular season MVP awards, best block and best in rebound.
Scores:
Sonics 69 – J. Aranda 23, N. Salem 19, J. De Guzman 8, J. Tudela 6, Scott Escalada 2, Shawn Escalada 2, J. Tadifa 2, J. Villanueva 2, C. Mizer 1.
Rollers 60 – S. Talalemotu 35, M. Mancao 7, S. Escueta 5, E. Dela Rosa 4, A. Limes 3, A. Hambros 2, R. Iglesias 2, R. Lansang 2.
Half time scores: 31-31, 69-60
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