Back-to-back titles for SIP

The 2006 MDX Good Sportsmanship Basketball League Coca-Cola Cup came to a close Sunday night, with the Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense cagers successfully defending their crown and repeating as champions at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

There was no pressure on SIP as the team held a twice-to-beat advantage against MOVER in the finals. The team, however, wanted it to end quickly, and showed it throughout the 40 minutes of regulation.

With top gun Fred Pelisamen lighting up the scoreboard, SIP was able to break away and secure the championship with an 87-73 victory.

It was a low-scoring bout in the early stages as both teams struggled to put the ball through the hoop.

Despite having a tough time, SIP was still able to grab control as the team played solid defense and shocked the crowd by holding MOVER to just four points for almost nine minutes to take a 10-4 lead.

MOVER played better in the final minute of the first period and was able to close in. The team’s offensive production in the final 60 seconds matched its entire push in the first nine minutes. By the time the buzzer sounded, the two teams combined for just 23 points, with SIP leading 13-10.

Determined to get going, MOVER was able to get a good start by scoring the first basket of the second quarter. Unfortunately for the team, it took more than five minutes to score again.

While MOVER continued to struggle with its cold shooting, SIP began to pull away. Buckets by Peter Mendiola and Junar Guiab were followed by consecutive baskets by Fred Pelisamen to fuel a 10-0 run after MOVER’s basket, and just when it seemed MOVER was going to break its cold spell after a field goal with 4:50 in the period, Ed Diaz sank a triple that gave SIP a 26-14 advantage.

Pelisamen went on to score 11 points in the period—more than what the entire MOVER team put up—and SIP was able to head into the break ahead by 18 points, 37-19.

The absence of Ryan Sanciangco was hurting MOVER, but despite being playing without the rookie sensation and staring at the big deficit, the team remained determined and began to put pressure on their opponents.

Forwards Eric Dalangin and Ron Gamboa each hit a bomb from downtown and had seven points apiece, and center Dalewin Cortez and C.J. Ambrosio each had four points as MOVER turned the tables and pulled to within eight points, 47-55, with one period remaining.

Pelisamen was again big for SIP in the third as he prevented the team from losing its grip on the lead with another 11 points.

Pelisamen knows he can score, and he didn’t hesitate to keep at it. The standout scored another 12 points in the fourth period, including three straight buckets—two of which were fastbreak field goals—that put his team ahead, 73-55, with a little over four minutes left in the contest.

MOVER tried to put up a final charge in hopes of a miracle, but their prayers weren’t answered as coach Boy Garcia inserted sniper Brian Flores into the bout, and the shooter nailed a couple of triples that served as icing on the cake.

Pelisamen was phenomenal and led all scorers with a game-high 37 points, while Darwin Barbo added 12 points for SIP.

Dalangin led MOVER with 25 points, 11 of them coming in the fourth period, while Ambrosio and Gamboa added 13 and 11 points. Cortez contributed 10 points.

It was SIP’s third win over MOVER this season after taking their regular season meeting, while also beating the team in the round-robin playoffs.

Members of SIP include Pelisamen, Flores, Guiab, Mendiola, Barbo, Edsel Mendoza, Elmer Esdrelon, James Villacrusis, Bing Marasigan, Sam Fernandez, J.R. Montano, George Barbo, Rick Alegre, Ed Diaz, and Mel Manibusan.

Last year, SIP took home the championship crown with a 102-87 victory over JCN Ent.

Earlier, RHT won third place by default over Budweiser.

[B]SIP 87[/B] – Pelisamen 37, D. Barbo 12, Diaz 9, Manibusan 8, Flores 6, Mendoza 5, Esdrelon 2, Guiab 2, Mendiola 2, Marasigan 2, G. Barbo 2.

[B]MOVER 73[/B] – Dalangin 25, Ambrosio 13, Gamboa 11, Cortez 10, Domingo 4, Johanes 4, Aquino 4, Dayrit 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 13-10, 37-19, 55-47, 87-73.

[B]Referees:[/B] Arnold Mesa, Jess Pacheco, and Noel Delos Santos.