Seaoil MMBL Saturday: Nailbiters, an unbelievable taunt & a some cool sportsmanship

Saturday, November 17, 2012. San Beda College Gym, Manila

Game reports of a hoops junkie:

St. James Academy vs. The Seed Montessori School

Schejel Pascual hit six of eight free throws in the final 36 seconds to help St. James Academy (Malabon) survive a late game rally by The Seed Montessori School for a 66-63 win in the Seaoil Metro Manila Basketball League.

Pascual was ice cold after being benched for much of the game yet when he came in with about a minute left to play, shooting guard Carl Embuscudo put The Seed up by one 61-60 with time down to 44.7 seconds.

A foul by The Seed center Christopher Gonzalo sent Pascual to the line and he promptly gave a one-point lead back to his team. Gonzalo, who took over the scoring cudgels from Embuscudo with 13 fourth quarter points, turned the ball over and once more fouled Pascual who made both his free shots for a 64-61 lead.

Gonzalo drove hard on the next possession to slice the lead down to one with 20 seconds left. Pascual was fouled once more but he split his free throws, 65-63.

With 3.2 seconds left, Gonzalo had the opportunity to send the match into extra time as he was fouled by Pascual inside the lane but The Seed center who was steady from the line all match long flubbed both shots. Pascual corralled the rebound and was fouled once more. He converted one more for the final score as The Seed failed to get off a long three pointer in time.

Although it was Pascual who was the late game hero for St. James, it was point guard Tim Francisco and forwards Jyrus Santiago and Jude Mendoza who not only gave their team a late nine-point lead, 60-51 with four minutes left to play. Gonzalo, who carried his team after Embuscudo fouled out after tallying 26 points with five three-pointers.

Mendoza led St. James with 15 points while Francisco added 11 while Pascual had nine points with six coming in the final minute of play.

GIRLS BASKETBALL Casimiro Ynares Memorial National School vs. St. Jude Catholic School

CAYS repeatedly broke down St. Jude Catholic School’s 2-3 zone with timely three-pointers en route to a 31-21 win.

Genevieve Sippi led CAYS with eight points while sisters Jen Jen and Sen Sen Nama added five and four points respectively.

St. Jude had trouble bringing the ball down forcing center Hadriane Tanking to help out in the ball handling chores. Tanking scored six points but grabbed nine rebounds. Hazel Tee led St. Jude with eight points including two triples. Bettina Dee scored four while pixie guard Janelle Co added three points.

It was a frustrating game for the Lady Knights as CAYS made them pay for their sloppy ball handling. With Tanking staying behind to break the press, by the time St. Jude buckled down to work their half court set the shot clock was winding down to zero. CAYS forced three 24-second shot clock and one five-second inbound violation.

Colegio de San Benildo-Rizal vs. Escuela de Sophia Caloocan

The Colegio de San Benildo Blazing Wolves withstood a furious endgame rally by Escuela de Sophia for a 68-64 win. Jordan Sta. Ana scored six of the final eight points of the Blazing Wolves to hold back Escuela de Sophia that came roaring back on the outside sniping of Christopher Perio who nailed five treys.

After Perio hit the last of his triples to make it 66-64, CoSB, time down to 2:38, the Blazing Wolves botched three consecutive layups to give Escuela de Sophia a chance to not only even up matters but to take the lead they had last tasted in the first quarter. But JC Manuel, their fearless guard who repeatedly drove the lane in spite of the presence of CoSB’s tall players, turned the ball over twice.

As it turned out, Perio’s basket would be the last that they would score while CoSB closed it out with the last of Sta. Ana’s layups.

As clutch as Sta. Ana was for the Blazing Wolves, it was Gabby Alvendia who shone for Colegio de San Benildo as the forward topscored with 22 points. He also waged a war with counterpart Jay Ganaden who led his team with 16 points all scored from inside the shaded area.

After an early Escuela de Sophia led, it took the entry of point guard Raphael Ferrer to stabilize CoSB’s offense. Ferrer scored only two points but it was his quarterbacking, defense, and leadership that helped wrest the game’s momentum from Escuela de Sophia.

Game notes:

The most unbelievable taunt that I heard all day when one supporter of The Seed who try to rattle Schejel Pascual by yelling, “Peek-a-boo!” Not once but all four times Pascual trooped to the free throw line in the final minute of play. If Pascual missed that any free throws it would have been because he was laughing his head off. Peek-a-boo? WTF!

During the CAYS-St. Jude match, one CAYS player tugged at the jersey of Lady Knights’ guard Janelle Co who fell to the court. Said the CAYS player after helping Co up to her feet, “I am sorry I pulled your shirt.” Sportsmanship lives!