Golden Knights nips Calauag for 3rd spot

WITH THEIR DEFEAT VERSUS THE ANDAYA KNIGHTS, 83 – 66, last 22 July, Ateneo Golden Knights-Team A ended their battle for the championship in the 2nd Naga City Open Basketball Tournament by landing third place. This is after defeating Calauag, 66-61, last 25 July at the Naga City Gymnasium.

BATTLE FOR THIRD PLACE

The Golden Knights and Calauag Team competed in the battle for third place. The Calauag Team used their frontcourts to make a barricade hindering Knights from penetrating the defense.

During the second quarter, Calauag launched its attack in the offense by bringing their best forwards to stretch up their arms in making easy close shots to the bucket. The Knights were in mayhem on how to organize their defense against Calauag’s non-stop run. Calauag was on top by fifteen at the half, 44-29.

After two quarters, the Knights hit back by bringing up its quickest line-up on the floor. It tallied 11 steals, while Julius Vargas (BSBA CMA 4) made most of his points in the third quarter, trimming the lead. It turned out to grab the lead before the quarter ended.

Poor outside shooting awareness disrupted Calauag’s defense in the three-point area. Xerdan Gabatin (AB Pol Sci 4) led the Knights in shooting during the fourth quarter, making three out of his four attempts from downtown. Along with him were Vargas who led them in sniping drives, and stalwart center Joshua Tisoy (BS CoE 4) who controlled the board with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The Golden Knights’ success against the Calauag Team ensured them the third slot in the said basketball tournament. This was, however, after the team missed their shot for the championship after losing to the Andaya Knights.

KNIGHTS IN BATTLE

Before the game, Golden Knights head coach Emmanuel Rene Ayo reminded the team to think like giants and act like giants since they were facing giants literally and figuratively. Moreover, he encouraged them to always think of winning.

“Win or lose, basta gibuhon gabos,” said Vargas who was the highest scorer for the Golden Knights with 18 points, 5 assists, and 3 rebounds. Meanwhile, Tisoy grabbed 18 rebounds and scored 15. Jan Bequillo (BS ECE 4) who scored nine and grabbed 5 boards, helped the team in giving the Andaya Knights a hurdle match.

The mellow-running first quarter of the game ended with a six-point lead by the Andaya team. The Golden Knights set an early full-court pressure defense to prevent the Andaya Knights from drilling easy hoops. Guards Vargas and Bequillo teamed-up in scoring during the first quarter.

However, at the start of the second quarter, the Golden Knights failed to handle the quick jumpshots and easy putbacks of the Andaya Knights. This quarter was the dropping point for the Golden Knights especially when Tisoy committed his third foul and Vargas, his second. The two were forced to perch at the bench for the remaining minutes weakening both the offense and defense. Dave Salvador (AB Pol Sci 4) replaced Vargas while center Arcadio Calayag (BS Nursing 3) entered to replace Tisoy.

Before the end of the first half, Coach Ayo decided to shift the team’s defense to man-to-man. Unfortunately, the defense did not stop the Andaya Knights from creating easy drives through the bucket. The Andaya Knights established a 20-point lead during the last two minutes of the second quarter which ended at 49-33.

Point guard John Paul Disuanco (BSBA Mktg Mgt 3) and small forward Rodel Priela (BSBA CMA 3), entered the game during the action-packed third quarter for a quicker line-up for the Golden Knights. After performing an eye-popping dunk at the middle of the excitement during the third quarter, Saquillo, number 24 of the opposing team, added to the rage of the Golden Knights to earn more points. Priela and forward Joma Calandria (BSBA Mktg Mgt 4) gave hope to the Golden Knights after trimming the lead of the Andaya Knights to ten, 62-52.

Vargas returned during the fourth quarter to help the Golden Knights climb the mountain lead of the opponent but antagonist gunner Daep sustained the Andaya Knights with points from downtown. Two minutes before the end, the Andaya Knights was at a binge of points, leading by 17.

REASONS FOR LACK OF SPADEWORK

Ayo said the team lacked spadework because of the occupancy of other school activities in their practicing area and the players’ academic responsibilities. Vargas affirmed that Coach Ayo did not ever oblige them to go to practice when there are academic works to be done. However, he also mentioned that it was not really the lack of preparation that led them to failure “Mga Beterano lang talaga ang mga taga Andaya,” he said.