By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Western Institute of Technology (WIT) Tangerine pulled off the necessary adjustments against the well-oiled University of Iloilo (UI) Wildcats and took home the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) Season III ‘School Wars’ college alumni championship title.
After falling at the hands of the Wildcats during their first encounter, the talented WIT squad played an inspired fourth quarter to fend off UI in the do-or-die championship match, 84-80.
The high-flying Mark Ceniza started strong for the Tangerine and punished the Wildcats’ interior defenders after tallying eight quick points.
However, UI responded with a barrage of three-pointers that turned the rubber match into a nip-and-tuck affair.
Every time Ceniza and WIT scored a deuce, the trio of Bernard Tibor, Jan Gonzales, and Andy Ticzon responded to keep themselves within striking distance.
After two close quarters, disaster then struck the Tangerine squad after the Wildcats ballooned their lead to as much as 10 points in the third frame.
Veteran center Zael Poral’s efficient perimeter shooting torched the Tangerine and became the key factor to UI’s surge heading into the final 10 minutes of the game.
Just when the Wildcats thought they could replicate their Game 1 dominance, the Tangerine squad had other plans and came out waxing hot in the fourth quarter.
Scoring machine Cris Loyola went unconscious in the most crucial stretch of the game and single-handedly outscored UI in the first four minutes of the final canto.
From an eight-point deficit, Loyola’s seven-straight points helped WIT retake the lead, 68-70, including a sweet assist to big man Jhepoy Balleza for the lead.
Ticzon came right back with a perimeter jump shot to deadlock the game at 70-all but WIT’s three-straight made baskets stunned the Wildcats that saw the orange nation enjoy a six-point lead, 76-70.
Widely-renowned point guard Aming Doliguez played huge in the last three minutes of the game and sank four cold-blooded free throws that sealed the deal for WIT.
Ceniza was hailed as the JB ABL ‘School Wars’ college alumni Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) after willing the Tangerine with a double-double performance.
“Dako gd nga pasalamat akon as the commissioner of this JB ABL Season III. After almost two months sang bakbakanay naton, natigayun, natapos ta gd man sang matawhay kag wala sang lala nga na injury. All praises to the teams that stayed with us asta sa final buzzer. To my referees, kudos to all of you, you are also champions. To the sponsors, partners, friends, and JB ABL supporters, this is just the start of something bigger. Mabuhay ang Ilonggo basketball,” said commissioner Jayphet Balbacal in an exclusive interview with the Daily Guardian.
