Liberators, Specialists back on top

CELAS Liberators and PDN Specialists dethroned defending champions CHM Travelers in basketball at the annual CEU Sportfest September 10, 2011 at the Centrodome.

The Liberators fought toe-to-toe against heavily favored and defending champions Travellers as early as the first canto of the championship match.

Renel Manalo of CELAS used his quickness in breaking into the tight defense of the Travelers, but his two early quick fouls stopped his team’s momentum.

R-Jay Ramirez picked up cudgel left by Manalo to keep the game within reach.

In the second quarter, long bomber Jarson Angeles of CHM took the game over by firing out two trifectas that kept the Liberators at bay.

To close out Ramirez, the Travelers put up bodies on him, making it difficult for the CE-LAS skywalker to score in half-court offensive plays.

CHM still controlled the third quarter by owning the boards courtesy of Marwin Santos.

The Liberators took advantage of missed shots from the outside by the Travelers by converting those turnovers into fastbreak points and high free throw shooting percentage in the fourth quarter.

CELAS since then never looked back as draftees and resident players played like a well-oiled machine orchestrated by point guard Miguel Manalaysay who would be the Most Valuable Player.

“It was an earned win talaga. It was a good game. Minsan kasi nasa character ng player na iyan, wala na sa strategy…” Mr. Banjo Serrano, coach of Travelers, said in an interview right after the game.

“Ang heart ng CELAS, talagang they wantedt to win…” Mr. Serrano added

“Ang instructions ko sa kanila, quick two lang. Kayang-kaya pa kasi marami pa sanang oras…” He continued.

CELAS won 92 – 85.

Meanwhile, PDN Lady Specialists convincingly won against College of Hospitality Management (CHM) Lady Travelers in their championship showdown.

The Specialists showed grim determination as early as the first quarter with their running game led by Naguit while Berdonado orchestrated the plays.

Zulueta, a streak shooter, finally connected from the three-point territory when the team needed it the most after poor showing in her first two games in the elimination round.

CHM had good looks and opportunities to score but they just couldn’t get it to go including their free throws

PDN capitalized on passing errors committed by CHM. Those unforced errors made in even more difficult for the Travelers to mount a rally.

Manansala, the 2011 MVP, started waxing hot to close the gap in the first half 16-20 in favor of the PDN.

Manansala, however, committed her third personal foul early in the second half with only three minutes gone by, which Berdonado took advantage of by eluding the defense thrown at her.

With only 1:23 left in the game, the Specialists leading by three 34-31, Garcia of CHM connected a hail Mary shot from the rainbow territory to tie the game at 34 all.

But Naguit had other things in mind and stole the ball only to increase break the tie from the free throw line after she was fouled.

Manansala, making her last attempt to retain the championship title, attacked the lane and got the foul that she wanted but failed to convert on her free throws.

Adding woes to their miseries, Fandinola fouled out in the ballgame that iced the game. PDN won 43-36 to get their first championship.

Meanwhile, the PDN emerged as the overall champion for this year’s Sportsfest.

by Mark Anthony Sarino