LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Team Pangasinan remained undefeated in all its seven goodwill basketball games held not only within the province but even nearby localities like Baguio City, Angeles City and Bualacan.
In its latest victory recently against the Philippine Military Academy- Basketball Corps Squad in Baguio City, the Pangasinan team displayed its full force particularly in shooting which led to a 13-point lead over its nemesis in the final quarter, 89-76.
At the start of the first quarter, the PMA team scored a three which was reciprocated also by Calasiao cager Reynald Ballesteros with an easy three-pointer. Two more three-pointers came from Binmaley and Lingayen star players Roxar Melendez and Marven Jophet Mamaril. But PMA team controlled the first quarter with a one-point advantage, 16-15.
In the second quarter, Team Pangasinan came up with a better defense strategy with the collaborative acts of other cagers namely Christian Paul Cruz (Binmaley), Chuck Barcelona (Urdaneta City), Garnet Asuncion (Sto. Tomas), Manny Santos (Manaoag), and Jomar Ordona (Manaoag). Lingayen cager Jessie Artates also pulled some rebounds and delivered a two-pointer with 33 seconds time left. Score at the end of the quarter went in favor of the dream team, 40-30.
With the line-up of Melendez, Ordona, Ballesteros, Asuncion, Artates and Ismael Sarmiento (Urdaneta City) in the third quarter, Team Pangasinan hauled an 11-point advantage to include the three-pointer of Melendez at 8 minutes 40 seconds. Again, the dream team controlled the entire quarter, 63-52.
Momentum continued in the final quarter as the lead of Pangasinan team reached 20 points after Ballesteros scored a three-pointer at 6 minutes 38 seconds. The lead was slightly trimmed down by the PMA team by 13 points at 3 minutes 58 seconds but the dream team was unstoppable and victoriously finished the match.
Prior to the out-of-town game, Team Pangasinan defeated University of Luzon- Golden Tigers by 15 points in a rematch, 83-68, on October 11 at the People’s Astrodome in Dagupan City.
It can be recalled that the dream team’s first-ever goodwill game was held between the Golden Tigers last August 9 where the former posted a 14-point lead.
The rematch, which was officiated by Manila-based referees, was held for the purpose of UL Golden Tigers bid for accreditation in the National Capital Region Athletic Association.
Present during the game were former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player Bay Cristobal of Crispa team and Buddy Encarnado, former Sta Lucia Realty PBA board representative and now chairman of Philippine Commercial Basketball League (PCBL).
The dream team also defeated the basketball teams of Lyceum Northwestern University (LNU) in Dagupan City, University of Cordilleras in Baguio City, Angeles University Foundation, and Bulacan State University (BSU).
Pangasinan team is composed of the best players from different towns/cities that participated in the 1st Governor Espino’s Inter-Town/City Basketball Tournament last year for 18 to 24 years old local cagers. The project is a brainchild of Gov. Amado “Pogi” I. Espino III.
Coaching staff include two former PBA players Porferio ‘Jun’ Marzan, Jr. and Christian Jay Calaguio and Urdaneta City coach Rhodhelle ‘Sonny’ De Jesus.
By Dexter A. See
