The Rollers Basketball Club Fast 12 swept their five point deficit in the third quarter but collapsed during the final minutes for a 72-65 loss.
Eventual finals MVP and double digit scorer Melvin Cadiang led the Sonics on 19 points while Jimmy Tudela earned 13.
Three minutes into the second period, the Rollers nearly tied the game, 22-20 after an undefended layup from Rodney Sacramento. They came up short after seven missed baskets in four minutes.
Tudela slid beside Rainer Deleon Guerrero for two points and Ezra Caro followed with back-to-back hook shots to keep the Rollers at bay. Cadiang hammered his second three-pointer to lift the Sonics, 31-26.
“We just worked on our defense. Defense works no matter what,” Coach Omar Ajoste said after the game.
“We knew we’re the team to beat but I told my guys to always stay focused and play together. We didn’t think about the championship game because everyone in the Rotary league is competitive.”
Caro, who was the 19U division’s regular season MVP, also relied on their defense to throw off Rollers’ top shooter Rodney Sacramento in the second half.
He agreed with Ajoste, saying their game was “all defense” as well.
“He (Ajoste) told us to keep playing man to man. We tried to change our plans but we went back to the same strategy,” he told Variety.
Even with his performance, Caro didn’t expect an MVP trophy after the game.
“I was hoping the MVP was me but I thought it would be Melvin. When they called my number I was shocked.”
Sacramento posted only three points from the third quarter after losing the ball twice to Caro and Jaymark De Guzman. He added five more points for a 15 total in the fourth quarter. Deleon Guerrero piled 11 points and Jomar Danas bagged 13.
Danas missed two crucial shots in the second half, giving leeway for the Sonics to stretch their 67-63 lead. Tudela capped off with a last-second basket while Cadiang and Tristan Ecalnea secured the game on three free throws.
“All of us worked so hard during practice. Before games, they always have to stay focused,” said Ajoste.
He considered the victory as the Sonics’ wedding gift to him, as he was scheduled to get married on Saturday.
Ajoste praised both Caro and Cadiang for clinching both MVP titles, saying “they deserved it.”
“Their hard work and commitment paid off. They would be team captains in the future,” he noted.
Ajoste and the Sonics thanked fellow coach Jesse Tudela, their fans, family, friends, and Yasu Irinaka of Island Apparel for their support.
Meanwhile, CK Blazers’ Patrick Torres was recognized as the scoring champion after averaging 20 points per game.
The Sonics received the pennant title while the Division of Youth Services Rollers won third place.
Scores:
Sonics 72 – M. Cading 19, J. Tudela 13, T. Ecalnea 8, E. Caro 8, B. Alegre 7, J. De Guzman 7, J. Villanueva 6, J. Aranda 4
RBC Fast 12 65 – R. Sacramento 15, J. Danas 13, R. Deleon Guerrero 11, L. Iglesias 9, S. Metran 6, J. Ano 4, H. Maranan 2, L. Vertudez 2, J. Rabauliman 2, K. Orejola 1
Quarterscores: 13-11, 31-26, 48-50, 72-65
