Marcus Mesina displayed nerves of steel after hitting a follow-up basket to lead Taho Story Sigma to a 69-68 win over Spartans to remain unscathed in the Philippine Youth Basketball Championship’s Under-11 division at the Amoranto Sports Complex in Quezon City Sunday, Oct. 5.
Downed by one point, Mesina rose to the occasion as he went to haul an offensive rebound before hitting a game-winning deuce with 0.5 seconds left to help Sigma secure their third consecutive win.
Mesina finished with five points, while Josh Brixter Cruz starred with a double-double output of 21 points and 23 rebounds on top five blocks, and three steals.
“Nagpa-practice po kami ng ganung shots, siguro po mga hundred shots, so siguro yun po ang tumatakbo sa isip ko noon,” said Mesina, the PalawanPay Player of the Game.
“Baka po sisihin ko yung sarili ko kung hindi ko na shoot, so siyempre po shinoot ko,” added Mesina of his heroics in the PYBC which is supported by PalawanPay, Cherifer, Chronos, Chooks to Go, Aces Solar, Goodday Friz, Oak Group of Companies, Smile 360 Dental Clinic, Team Access – Official Nike Partner, and Daily Essencials.
”Chill lang po kami kahit lumalamang na po yung kalaban kanina,” said Cruz, the co-Player of the Game. “Pero andoon pa rin po yung effort.”
Christian Jacob Tan finished with 26 points for the Spartans, while Christian Emmanuel Tan was their leading scorer with 29 on top of 14 rebounds, seven assists, and two rejections in their first loss in two games.
In another U11 close encounter, DSM Sportswear Grind Hoops crawled back over RWE Jaba Medical, 68-63, to bounce back from its opening day loss.
DSM retaliated late in the final canto all thanks to Niccolo Tyler Serafica and Pierre Kyler Pesa who respectively scored 14 and five points, while Xavier Christian Jeongco provided muscle with his 24 markers, 15 rebounds, and seven steals.
For RWE JABA Medical, which fell to 0-2, Kean Estrada and Joakim Castro stood out with 15 and 14 points, respectively.
Completing the U11 games was Buena Foods JSKLLBBLDVT’s 94-39 dominance over Lev Construction Full Potential.
Buena Foods improved to 2-0 behind Word Topacio’s 18 points and 16 steals, while Lev Construction fell to 0-2 as only KD Allanza reached double figures with 14.
Meanwhile, Roan Lee Ancheta delivered when it mattered most to lead the Smile 360 Bullies Under-15 to its third straight victory in PYBC.
Ancheta finished with 19 points, three assists, three steals, and two rebounds to steer the Bullies vs. JPM-TEC San Beda, 72-68.
“Depensa lang talaga,” said Ancheta, who was hailed as the PalawanPay Player of the Game. “Talagang hindi lang kami nawala sa sistema namin, at tiyaka maganda rin yung tiwala naming magkakakampi.”
But aside from their efforts on the defensive end, it was Ancheta’s composure which brought Smile 360 to glory, as he hit a crucial three-pointer with only 35 seconds left to give his squad a 70-66 lead.
Dennis Yojan Necesario’s deuce in their next possession brought San Beda back to within two, 70-68, with still 18 ticks remaining on the clock, but that proved to be too late as the Bullies held on to their spot at the top of their division.
On the other hand, Juan Xian Coronel top-scored for San Beda with 20 markers, but his squad absorbed a defeat in their debut in the PYBC.
In another U15 clash, Migrafix Doc Boleros finally entered the win column after taking down Lev Construction Full Potential, 73-60.
Riley Yuan Dela Cruz led Migrafix with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four steals as they improved to 1-1, while backstopping him were Khryz Alexandr Samson and Kaeden Pio Rapista who scored 14 and 11, respectively.
For Lev Construction, Jim Andrie Braza posted 16 markers, and both Derict Reyes and Juan Cortes put up 13 each, but they were handed their second loss in three outings so far.
Closing out Sunday’s U15 division, Spartans Sab Beda Alabang demolished JMTG Medical Trading Infinite, 101-30.
Mcryan Demsart Macasarte had a game-high 20-point performance with six rebounds, four assists, and four steals to lead Spartans San Beda to its first win after an opening day loss.
Marco Clauna led Infinite with 10 points, while Xerone Dizone scored seven in their debut.
Over to the Under-13 division, Chef’s Magic MLO Basketball remained flawless in three appearances after moving past Smile 360 Bullies, 57-38.
Ethan Suangco was admirable with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three steals, and also solid was Xander Dulfo who had a double-double of 14 markers and 13 boards.
This was Smile 360’s first defeat in three PYBC games so far. Oscar Bagion was their leading scorer with eight as no one reached the double-digit mark.
In another U13 match, JPM-TEC San Beda was a thorn on TOPS Mordeno’s side, 69-58.
Andre Kitong flexed his might with a 27-point, 14-rebound game with two blocks and a steal to gift San Beda its first win after two games, while Michael Rae Corañes scored 11 to also finish in double digits.
TOP Mordeno, which remained winless in two games, leaned on Rich Bautista’s 20 markers.
PHOTOS:
Taho Story’s Marcus Mesina
