La Trinidad, Benguet – Isaac got another Second Strawberry Cup crown last Sunday, June 7, 2015, at the La Trinidad Municipal Gymnasium to cap its participation in the tournament with a success rate measuring to two crowns and three runner-ups.
This one was very tight during the first two quarters. Isaac was down 31-32 after the first while was barely half at the half., 56-54. Winnifred Pascual lead Isaac in scoring with 16 while Jun Bacani had 24 for Bryan in an individual shootout.
The third quarter was no different. It featured a total of six lead changes. Melmer Guieb drilled in a triple to start hostilities and Bryan grabs the lead. But Paul Catbagan scored six along with Alshati Mohamed with five and Pascual with four as Isaac answered back with a 17-8 run to retake the lead and increase it to 10, 75-65, 3:37 left.
Bryan is not about to be left behind, though. Guieb connected three rainbow shots to lead Bryan in delivering a 15-3 counter punch to retake the lead going into the fourth, 80-78. Guieb punctuated the run by a Reggie Miller type pull-up three pointer at the buzzer.
Another give and take offering occurred in the next three minutes that saw two ties and three lead changes, Isaac now up 88-86, 6:30 left in the game. Isaac then got three unanswered baskets to threaten a breakaway, 94-86. Pascual rifled a pass to Jonas Gacula who dished if off to JR Ignacio for a fastbreak lay-up, Mohamed canned a jumper and Pascual putback an Isaac miss.
This would force Bryan into a lull. It would not do them any good, however, as they turned the ball over in the next possession that would led to a 7-4 run by Isaac and increase the lead to ten, 101-91, time down to 2:59. Gacula had two baskets and Pascual got in a basket and a freethrow during the attack.
This run would virtually seal the game for Isaac as they would match Bryan basket for basket the rest of the way for their second crown.
The Isaac group fell short in their first three attempts to take a championship, one each in the 35 and Up bracket, the 40’s bracket and the D bracket, before finally getting one in the C bracket last week.
The Scores:
Isaac 94: Pascual 40, Gacula 16, Mohamed 13, JR Ignacio 11, Paul Catbagan 11, Rommel Basali 9, Kits Ocawe 6, Johnny Batanes 5.
Bryan 102: J Bacani 39, Guieb 23, Alex Urbano 10, Fernando Bacani 10, John Paul Abrenica 10, Wilfredo Mahusay 4, Anthony Dizo 3, Pitok Albeza 2, Policarpio Diaz 1.
Quarterscores: 31-32, 56-54, 78-80, 111-102. 3 point shots made: Pascual 4, Basali 3, Catbagan 1, Ignacio 1, Guieb 5, Abranica 1, Dizo 1, Mahusay 1.
