Jeremiah tops in Ezekiel in Gen Cup finals

Ezekiel’s Jun Marilla, left, tries to tap the ball away from Jeremiah’s Isagani Cortez, while the former’s teammate Don Teregeyo stays close in the play during the second half of their title match in the adults division of the Genesis Cup last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Jeremiah outsteadied Ezekiel in the second half en route to a 62-58 victory in their title match in the adults division of the 5th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League last Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Michael Cabanas led the finals win, scoring 22 points, including four straight clutch free throws in the closing minutes of the game to keep Jeremiah’s safe distance.

His fourth free throw gave Jeremiah a 6-point cushion, 61-55, 21 seconds remaining in the finale. Ezekiel went for the quick inbound in the ensuing play, but wasted several seconds before attempting a shot with Job Samonte burying a triple from the right key to keep his team in the match, 58-61, just 8 seconds left on the clock.

With the time winding down, Ezekiel was forced to foul Rodel Lonzaga after Jeremiah’s inbound play. Lonzaga then trooped to the foul line and had a split with his second charity going in for the insurance.

Ezekiel sued for time after Lonzaga’s free throw and was left with 6 seconds to pull up for a quick shot. Again, Ezekiel took a few more seconds before Samonte unloaded a triple from the right corner and missed, handing Jeremiah the division championship.

Jeremiah had to play steadier basketball in the second half after squandering a double-digit advantage late in the first. The eventual champion built a 22-12 lead, but a 17-3 scoring spree in the next six minutes and change put Ezekiel in the driver’s seat, 29-25.

Don Teregeyo anchored the rally, scoring 10 points in that stretch, while Jamin Dela Cruz knocked in a triple, and Jun Marilla and Dan Toribio added 2 markers each. Fred Fatialofa scored the 3 points for Jeremiah in the meltdown off a putback and a split free throw, while a buzzer-beating triple from Cabanas cut the deficit to a hair by halftime, 28-29.

It was a seesaw battle from thereon with neither team leading by as much as 8 points in the second half. Teregeyo was at the forefront of Ezekiel’s title bid in the early goings of the second half before successive baskets from Samonte in the final phase of the game kept their team in contention. However, Ezekiel failed to get the win in the end, as Cabanas took care of business for Jeremiah while drawing timely outside shots from Joel Buniag and layups from Lonzaga.

Buniag hit 7 of his 9 points in the second half, while Lonzaga added 5.

Teregeyo led Ezekiel’s losing cause, tallying 17, while Samonte and Toribio finished in twin digits, recording 13 and 10, respectively.

Ezekiel and Jeremiah moved into last Saturday’s winner-take-all finale after beating Isaiah and Joshua in the semifinals, respectively, last Thursday. Joshua went on to gain the third place honors after slipping past Isaiah in the consolation match last Friday, 58-57.

Jeremiah 62 — Cabanas 22, Cortez 10, Buniag 9, Lonzaga 7, Fatialofa 6, Vergara 4, Bonquin 2, Conti 2.

Ezekiel 58 — Teregeyo 17, Samonte 13, Toribio 10, Cruz 6, Bacani 5, Marilla 3, Casuncad 2, Formales 2.

Scoring by halves: 28-29, 62-58.