Nat Cruz was on a warrior aura with 19 points and 8 rebounds as the Harbor Pilot demoralized the D’Marchan Yanna Team, 81-65, to be hailed champions of the 2013 Proper Langcangan Open Commercial Tournament last April 24, 2013 at the Proper Langcangan Basketball Court.

Cruz, who is a former PBA player, took command down the post slowing down D’Marchan’s big men even though with a cut on his left eye. He was also backed by fellow rebounding machine, Vanni Aguilar who finished with 13 rebounds.

D’Marchan was aggressive at the beginning with rainfall three-pointers from Kenith De la Cruz and swishing moves by Orly Biwang. They stayed close to the Pilots in the whole first quarter.

Harbor Pilot’s legendary point guard, Orly Alvarado was the team’s defensive captain as he played some doggy defense to Biwang. He marked Biwang three times and stolen one that all led to fastbreak points.

The first quarter ended, 19-17, in favor of the Pilots. But at the start of the second, former University of the Visayas (U.V.) Green Lancer, Harold Cincoflores who was a substitute guard for Alvarado drained an opening three-point shot to start the scoring barrage for the Pilots. They were on a 10-0 scoring run since the start of the period with contributions from shooter, Jong-Jong Rebuya and forward, Jan-Jan Villaver. Cincoflores also played great with awesome ball handling and defensive stops.

The Pilots continued to pound hard D’Marchan until the third quarter. Ex-PBA guard, Egay Echavez spearheaded the transition offense for the Pilots after another opening three-pointer from teammate, Lyndon Gudez. Echavez, who dished out assists for Kris Lucernas, Gudez, and Cruz on the fastbreak, also contributed well on the score-line with his signature side-step moves to the basket.

Cruz continued to dominate down low with his field-goals coming from offensive rebounds. He continued to stretch the deficit for the Pilots even though D’Marchan tried to come back. D’Marchan melted the lead by as much as 10, but it was the viral spin moves and post-ups by Cruz who cautioned D’Marchan from coming back to the ball game.

Echavez ended the game with a fade-away shot at the left wing to finally clog the game, 81-65. The Harbor Pilot bagged their first championship for 2013 and would look forward for more.

The D’Marchan-Harbor Pilot match-up is one of the most sold-out rivalries in Oroquieta City Basketball, but the D’Marchan never defeated the Pilots in a sanctioned tournament ever. 

Rabboni Mark Jay C. Borbon

After a red hot 2012, the best basketball franchise in the province is set for another dieseled mission in this year’s season…

DEEEEEEFENSE!!

If you want to beat the hell out of this team, you must play with all of your hidden best to surpass their defense. This has really been the team’s number one weapon in tearing their opponents apart. Although the team’s main defensive stopper, Lala Animas is not available for the tourney, we are still gonna expect a unique 2-3 Zone and Full/Half-Court Trap defense from the guys.

NEW FACES

The Pilots added players like Poloy Sanchez, a great rebound specialist and Anthony Jamorol, a natural shooter replacing the slots of Animas, Anton Centino, and Pokoy Robles. Team owner, Captain Richard Centino made sure that the team chemistry won’t be broken easily with the additions of this gifted players. The new addition of the team that would totally make a big impact for them is the former PBA D-League and Miss. Orr. Meteors player, Kris Lucernas. Standing six-foot-three, Lucernas could add more warning down low and drive in with his special cracking offense.

SLOWING DOWN THE M.V.P…..

Well, I guess I made a mistake up there… No one could slow down the reigning Most Valuable Player in Oroquieta, Silverio “Totoy” Bongcac. He really is the team’s hero, he’s always gonna play with all his best in any time you need him. As the playmaker and number one scorer, Bongcac has the full control of his teammates. With his flashy drives, versatile shooting, and conistency, slowing down the “Quick Silver” is just gonna be every player’s imagination. 

HOW TO DETHRONE THE TEAM?

LUCK… 

- RABBONI MARK JAY C. BORBON

LOWER LANGCANGAN HARBOR PILOT TEAM ROSTER:

1. BONGCAC, Silverio (PG)          
2. DAGUINOD, Marnel (SG)               
3. JAMOROL, Anthony (SF)             
4. ESMEJARDA, Allin  (PF)
5. LUCERNAS, Kris  (C)
6. LLANTOS, Romeo  (SF)
7. CENTINO, Jerome  (SF)
8. CENTINO, I.R  (PF)
9. SANCHEZ, Poloy  (PF)
10. CABURAL,            (PG)
11. PAGUIRIGAN, Mark (PG)
12. MALINIS, Edward   (C)

HEAD COACH: Orly Alavarado

TEAM OWNER: Capt. Richard T. Centino

The Seniors spoiled the sophomores’ Twice –to-Beat advantage and cruised on to be hailed champions in basketball of the 2012 SMC High School Intramurals on September 21, 2012 at the SMC basketball court.

Thanks to an “Air Jordan” performance from the captain, Howell Santiago, the Seniors got fueled up in their campaign to be recognized as the Kings of Hoops in the department after diffusing a potential  Juniors team earlier who everyone thought was the best.

The Sophomores got rewarded a Twice-to-Beat privilege after winning twice against the Freshmen and Juniors that rooted them a berth in the championship. After getting beaten up by the Juniors in the first game, the Seniors defeated the Freshmen and avenged their loss to the Juniors again to settle in the finals against the Sophomores.

         First Game: Seniors def. Sophomores,44-37

 The Seniors iced the Sophies in the first game, 44-37 to force another game to determine the champions, dismantling them a leg in their Twice-to-Beat cushion.

Rabboni Borbon of the Seniors set up the table for the court blazing match-up after draining the first bucket of the game before Sophomores responded with shots of their own and made a   6-2 lead.

Selected Team Oroquieta player bound for the NMRAA, Ryan Saceda of the Seniors took care in rebounding while he was silent the whole game wherein he only finished with seven points, but the sophomores never lost under the boards with Belza pulling down rebounds for himself.

The Seniors ended up the first half with  half-point lead, 18-17 and the showdown got even tighter until the first six minutes of the second half.

Sophomore’s veteran point guard, Jasper Santiago stuck to Belza in scoring baskets for them.  Each of them recorded the same numbers with 17 points apiece while the rest of the team got only three.

But the much organized and deeper-roistered Fourth Year squad still reigned and conquered the game, 44-37. H. Santiago posted 15 points while Borbon also added 10 points.

BOX SCORE:

SENIORS 44 - Santiago 15, Borbon 10, Robles 8, Saceda 7, Delostrico 3, Lagrito 0, Llamas 0, Cuajao 0, Jabonillo 0, Doyungan 0, Simbajon 0.

SOPHOMORES 37 - Belza 17, Santiago, 17, Ibasan 2, Ederosas 0, Abella 0, Revil 0.

    Second game : Seniors def. Sophomores, 42-41.
 

Finally, the dream became a reality after a game-winning shot by H. Santiago in their second and final meeting, 42-41, to hail the Seniors champions of basketball.

Saceda rebounded Santiago’s miss and kicked it out again to the game hero and drained it finally with just seven seconds left.

It was a close all-throughout in the game. The Sophomores were dead serious in claiming the championship title while the seniors were not fooling around either.

The rebounding efforts  of Viron Cuajao and Christopher Llamas of the seniors stole the limelight. They switched lives in fighting for all of those crucial rebounds in the entire game while Santiago and Saceda did their chores in scoring.

After being cold in the first half, Borbon, Llamas, and Argie Lagrito contributed much in the seniors’ scoring who each scored four points in the second half only. The Seniors were already looking to sit back and relax with a 40-34 lead with just two minutes to go in the game.
             

But, Belza pulled a missed ball and cleaned it before J. Santiago’s fast break lay-up that melted the lead by two, 40-38.

With less than a minute to go, Lagrito was handed a technical foul for substituting out of the game without permission that made Belza swish the technical free—throw and J. Santiago scored in the bonus possession to regain the winning margin, 41-40 with 22 seconds left. 

Depression and anger were all drawn from the faces of the seniors with foolish turnover by Lagrito that nearly costed them the championship.

In the last 22 seconds. H. Santiago’s first attempt was missed, good thing Saceda was there to clip the rebound and kicked it back to him to finally sock it in to lead again 42-41.

J. Santiago cross-overed his way forward and pulled up a fade-away jumpshot, but the ball went “in and out” that failed them to steal the game and settled for second place behind the seniors.

The Seniors  were jumping all around the court in happiness that caught the attention of the entire student body as they screw drived the Sophomores, 42-41, to nip the title. 

“Salbar jud! Champion najud mi!” H. Santiago said with mixed emotions as they came a very narrow way just to end up as champs.

BOX SCORE:

SENIORS 42 - Saceda 16, Santiago 14, Borbon 4, Lagrito 4, Llamas 4, Cuajao 0, Jabonillo 0, Doyungan 0.

SOPHOMORES - Santiago 18, Belza 15, Bernido 2, Revil 2, Ederosas 0, Abella 0.

The Seniors even suffered a loss in their first game versus the Juniors, but that did not stop them to aim for higher ranks. They played more games in the “Intrams” than any other team with five.
             

The championship will definitely be a milestone for the seniors to treasure before they leave the gates of the school.

Lower Langcangan Harbor  Pilots were hailed champions of the 2nd Harbor Pilots Cup as they defeated Taboc Sur, 92-85, last May 25, 2012 at the all-new Lower Langcangan basketball court.

Taboc Sur were shooting the ball well at the perimeter that caused little problems on the Pilots’ defense all throughout the game. The Pilots were also doing a good job on points down the paint with the help of their big men, Vanni Aguilar and Ommie Lucernas.

There were countless lead changes in the whole first half, but they were tied at 42 as they approach halftime. But the prevoius half would go to the outnumbered Taboc Sur playing only with six players on their tank.

At the third quarter, Taboc still had their soft touches and continued knocking down both wide open and contested shots that would push their lead by as much as four.

In the last four minutes of the third period, the Pilots’ Annel Daguinod stole the ball from his opponent and scored a lay-up to nab the lead that shifted the momentum to their side. They were on a big scoring run after that interception courtesy of Lucernas, Aguilar, Silverio Bongcac and Anton Centino.

The Harbor Pilots ended the third quarter on a high note and led, 74-70.

The game was still tight as they launched the fourth quarter. The Harbor Pilots focused more on defense spearheaded by Isidro Animas and playing coach, Orlie Alvarado who also made his leadership presence felt on the court with his dribbling skills and dime-to-dime assists.

The Harbor Pilots did an excellent job on putting those hands on their opponent’s faces and made crucial scoring runs that pounded Taboc Sur down to the roots. Alvardo captured the attention of the fans as he sat on the ball while killing the remaining time to finally walk out champs of the tourney with a cash prize of 15,000 pesos.

“That was tough. They are great shooters, but we did a great job on defending them until the end.”  The player of the game, Vanni Aguilar said who had a shocking double-double night with 24 points and 21 rebounds.

The Harbor Pilots defeated Taboc Sur for the fourth time of the season and will look to meet them again in the Finals of the 2012 Inter Barangay Summer League in Oroquieta and continue the story of their physical and historic rivalry.

                                                                                     - Rabboni Mark Jay C. Borbon

The Harbor Pilots were hailed champions of the 2012 Invitational Inter-Commercial Basketball Tournament after backing down Rhovic’s Place, 75-72, on June 24, 2012 at the Oroquieta City ABC Gym.

Rhovic’s Place won the tip at the start of the first quarter. Rhovic’s scored the first shots at start and then the Pilots also scored their own as a response.

At 8:28, Rhovic’s Cenieta was blocked by the Pilots’ Jan-Jan Villaver and the big small forward from the PBA D-League also scored at the other end. Another PBA D-League player of the Harbor Pilots, Kristopher Lucernas missed his lay-up, but playing-coach and former MBA (Metropolitan Basketball Association) player, Orly Alvarado was there to clean up the mess.

Harbor Pilots’ center, Vanni Aguilar missed his shot beneath the basket, but still never gave up and made it at his second attempt then Rhovic’s took a timeout with 5:57 remaining.

Rhovic’s Place was then scoring consecutive clear shots that bended their lead by seven.

Villaver, who finished the game with 28 points, was rolling like a bulldozer with his strong drive to the basket to cut Rhovic’s lead by one and then swishes a turning jump-shot to finally take the lead. But Rhovic’s Cenieta hit a three-point shot in the final four seconds and Rhovic’s Place still ended the first period leading, 21-19.

In the second quarter, the Harbor Pilots were holding the aces with Lucernas, Aguilar, and Villaver making their field-goal attempts and Alvarado doing a good job in making plays for his teammates.

Former Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings player of the PBA, Egay Echavez was a big factor in the game with his sticking drives and elegant assists. He dished out each for Lucernas and Aguilar in the second quarter alone.

Echavez shot a fade-away jumper to give the Pilots the lead at the end of the first half, 45-43.

Rhovic’s Place was pounded hard by the Harbor Pilots from the offensive and to the defensive end at the third quarter. Aguilar never stopped flying for rebounds as if there were wings at his back and continued icing easy baskets while Villaver and Lucernas kept on making their malicious jump-shots.

The crowd was roaring and laughing when two great partners, Cainglit of Rhovic’s and Alvarado of the Pilots were performing a little showdown. Cainglit was showing-off Alvarado when he was doing a cross-over move, but Alvarado was just smiling at him as if he knows what will happen next. Alvarado also tricked Cainglit when he was doing shadow-dribbling between his legs that Cainglit thought that he was driblling it on the floor.

But the two veterans who were close friends and teammates while they were playing inCebujust tapped each others head as a sign of peace and friendship.

Alvarado spoiled his buzzer-beater in the finals seconds, but they still lead at the end of the third canto, 62-50.

The fourth quarter was the hottest and most controversial part of the entire game.

Cortez of Rhovic’s Place was starting to feel the intensity within him and beaten defenders off the dribble and scored eye-popping penetration lay-ups.

But the Pilots quickly answered the phone at transition with Alvarado kiting a nice pass to Aguilar and dumped it in the hole plus the foul and he made the free-throw for the three-point play. Villaver also beaten the shot clock by draining a 20-foot jumper and annexed their lead by five.

Cainglit then made a three-pointer that sliced the Pilot’s lead by two. Villaver, on the other hand also scored for the Pilots that gave them a four-point cushion. Rhovic’s Place was forced to take a timeout with 1:31 left on the clock.

After the timeout, Cainglit again drained another shot from the three-point arc and it melted the Harbor Pilots’ lead within one, 73-72.

The Pilots remained calm and tried to increase their lead again, but Aguilar wasted three attempts near the basket then Villaver fought for the rebound and gave his team one more possession.

Egay Echavez then made his move. He asked for the ball, penetrated, does a little push to Cortez and pulled-up a jump-shot at the right flank, but unfortunately missed it and Cortez was there to grab the rebound and had a chance to take a shot for the win.

Cortez passed the ball to Cainglit, but he just sent it out of bounds and it is Harbor Pilots’ ball. But, a riot ignited when the referee changed his decision and said that it will be Rhovic’s ball.

The Harbor Pilots could not control their emotions and got very frustrated to the referee for his unfair decision. The players were yelling and bumping at him with anger.

There were only 25 seconds left in the game with the Pilots leading by one. The referee and the tournament management settled off the argument and decided that it is Harbor Pilots’ ball. The referee also asked for forgiveness for his mistake on the call.

Because of money betting reasons, Rhovic’s Place backed-out of the game and left the Harbor Pilots in the building.

The management had no choice and continued the game without Rhovic’s Place.

The Harbor Pilots freely inbounded the ball and Echavez happily sealed it with a lay-up and consumed the remaining time and sent their stupid and coward opponents in a garbage truck, 75-72.

“It was their decision to back-out and no doubt that it was really them who touched the ball last. But, what is important right now is that we are the champions of the tournament” Team owner, Captain Richard “Boting” Centino said.

The tournament management gave the Harbor Pilots the cash check worth 50,000 pesos and officially declared the Harbor Pilots champions of the tourney.

The Harbor Pilots champed their fourth tournament of the year and they proved to everyone that they are the Grand Slam Champions and the best basketball franchise inOroquietaCity.

-Rabboni Mark Jay C. Borbon