By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Team HOG x YDB Kikz was just hailed as the champions of the LEPRECHAUNS x TUNESQUAD basketball league’s first conference last May 26, 2023, held at the Green Meadows basketball gym in Pavia, Iloilo.
The stacked and talented squad gave their all in the do-or-die Game 3 to fend off the tough RBA Construction team, 104-95.
After losing Game 2 which could’ve rewarded them with a sweeping grand finals run, team HOG was laser-focused to score a payback and immediately went off to the races in the first two sets.
Mark Hermano, team HOG’s main gunner, lifted his team early in the game and bulldozed his way inside the paint for easy layups.
Just when HOG thought they already had momentum, team RBA struck back in the third set after their three-point shooting finally connected.
RBA continued to roll with their offense and got the better of HOG in the fourth set which helped them cling to a slim margin heading into the last two crucial quarters.
However, it was an unfortunate time for RBA to cool off as HOG’s reliable secondary offensive weapon Niel Labatorio also got it going in the last two sets.
Labatorio’s relentless drives and fast break scores eased Hermano’s scoring duties and helped HOG maintain their lead in the last six minutes of the game.
RBA had chances of staying afloat in the game but a series of missed shots and turnovers gave HOG a comfortable advantage in the final stretch of Game 3.
Hermano’s outstanding performance rewarded him with the Best Player of the Game award after dropping 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists.
The ball club then announced that they will be staging their second conference of the year this coming July 2023 and more details will be posted soon.
