{"id":404403,"date":"2024-01-05T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-05T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=404403"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"Alliana-s-clinches-B-League-champs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/Alliana-s-clinches-B-League-champs\/","title":{"rendered":"Alliana\u2019s clinches B League champs"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was a hard-fought finals matchup, but Alliana\u2019s came from behind with a few clutch plays in the last minutes of the game to win the championship of the Pacific Saipan Inc. Promo Invitational Basketball League.<\/p>\n

Alliana\u2019s was down by double digits at one point, but with a bit of luck, perseverance, and a never-give-up attitude, they rallied in the final minutes and won the title against Team Legends, 63-59, last Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.<\/p>\n

Both teams were exhausted heading into the fourth quarter as Alliana\u2019s fought tooth and nail to get within at least 1 point from the Legends. Reprieve came later with 3:30 left, as J.R. Alcantara evened up the game, 54-54.<\/p>\n

It was crunch time for both teams as Legends tried to fan the flames from a suddenly hot Alliana\u2019s offense. Legends missed a few opportunities to overtake the lead once again and before they knew it, Alliana\u2019s had a 2-point lead, 56-54.<\/p>\n

It was deadlocked once again, 57-57, with 49 seconds left, and the game could\u2019ve gone to any team at that point, but Alliana\u2019s Jomar Tengco was the saving grace as he threw a Hail Mary from the 3-point line and made it in for a 60-57 lead.<\/p>\n

The court and Alliana\u2019s bench exploded into cheers as Alliana\u2019s breathed a sigh of relief to have the upper hand once and for all.<\/p>\n

Legends were gassed out as they tried their best to catch up, but could only score 2 more points off free throws. Tengco put in one free throw for good measure and Alcantara added two more before time expired for a 63-59 final count.<\/p>\n

Alliana\u2019s leading scorers were Alcantara with 23, Jobert Meriales with 19, and Richard Mendoza who scored 13. For the Legends, Alken Ege scored 16, Jimboy Tabora had 13 markers, and Jun Tabora contributed 10.<\/p>\n

Third place went to the Guardians after they beat Bourbon Bar & Cafe, 81-65, earlier in the evening.<\/p>\n

After the awards ceremony that followed the finals, Alliana\u2019s coach\/player Mark Matuguina said that he told their team to \u201cgive it all they can\u201d in the last quarter. He saw that Legends were tired and told them to go man-to-man defense and just give it all they got.<\/p>\n

He said in the game, they were down by 14 points at one point, then trimmed the deficit down to 3 points. By then, he told the team to \u201csettle down, but put on the tension. They knew it was a crucial game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Matugiuna said the team\u2019s head coach, Ohlan Tengco, couldn\u2019t make it to the finals because he was actually on the way to Saipan from the Philippines the next day. Matuguina then thanked the tourney\u2019s commissioner, Sonny Ebuen, and the rest of the committee for the league that allowed \u201cregular basketball players\u201d to join and play.<\/p>\n

Alliana\u2019s 63 \u2014<\/strong> Alcantara 23, Meriales 19, Mendoza 13, Tengco 6, Leightly 2.<\/p>\n

Legends 59 \u2014<\/strong> Ege 16, Jimboy Tabora 13, Jun Tabora 10, Zapata 8, Tibayan 7, P. Tabora 5.<\/p>\n

Scoring by quarters:<\/strong> 17-21, 26-30, 37-48, 63-59.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Champion team Alliana’s takes a group photo with their championship trophy and league commissioner Sonny Ebuen, far right, during the awards ceremony of the Pacific Saipan Inc. Promo Invitational Basketball League at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court last Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Alliana’s coach\/player Mark Matuguina goes for a jumper against a Legends player during the third quarter of their finals game in the Pacific Saipan Inc. Promo Invitational Basketball League at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court last Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

-LEIGH GASES
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