ATHLETICS

Xavier Beats Lourdes-Q.C. for 1st Victory

Game 1-Small Basketeers Philippines

Mikee Rosales

Posted Saturday, 30-Jul-2005 8:35 AM

Xavier’s Small Basketeers Philippines (SBP) Team has joined the annual Milo Best SBP/Passerelle Basketball Tournament which opened on July 11, 2005 at San Beda Alabang School. 14 different schools from around Metro Manila are participating in this highly anticipated tournament.

  For its first game, Xavier drew a traditionally difficult opponent in Lourdes Quezon City (LSQC). This is the school in which Coach Jojo Imutan of Xavier got his first start in 1994, learned his craft, won his first Mini-Midgets PAYA title in 1997, and helped shape the reputation of LSQC today, as a sound developer of young basketball talent.

Xavier’s started with the veterans King Umali and Marco Ayuste in the backcourt, while rookies EJ Dee, Anton Lapez and Ralph Ong combined in the frontline. Anton Lapez delivered the opening first points for Xavier. The chemistry of King, EJ, Anton, Marco and Ralph got Xavier into a rhythm for the second five to build on.

The second quarter was marked by veterans Jeron Teng and Jiggy Santos, rookies Luke Ang, Paolo Cabero and John So. Xavier’s crescendo in patience and teamwork in the second frame created high percentage scoring chances. From a 5-9 count in the first quarter in favor of Lourdes , Xavier found its stride and outscored LSQC 9 to 3, gaining the halftime lead at 14-12.

Curiously, Xavier continued to build on its music in the second half, working harmoniously in gaining its biggest lead at 27-18. The rhythmic tempo in the third quarter was composed by veterans Michaelvin Chiong, the team captain, and Martin Tioseco, the co-captain, rookies Jamie Qua, Ryan Te and Kyles Lao. They jived and complemented each other’s movements effortlessly as if they have played together for a long time.

LSQC broke Xavier’s hold of the game in the fourth quarter. Using persistence, LSQC slowly carved into Xavier’s 9 point advantage, and the game mimicked championship pressure - defense outmaneuvering offense and offense outwitting the defense. Both teams found itself having the opportunity to win and take with them the all important psychological edge of being 1 and 0. Fortunately, Xavier’s multiple threats, in Jeron, Jiggy and Martin, were enough to outlast the game LSQC squad. Xavier beat Lourdes by 4 points, 32-28. Xavier now looks ahead to its next opponent Don Bosco Technical Institute on Sunday, July 17, 2005 , 1:45 pm , at San Beda Alabang. See you out there and support our young players.

Quarter scores:

5-9 LSQC, 14-12 XS, 27-18 XS, 32-28 XS

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