Sunday Club, March 28, 2010 -- The day of reckoning for the Dela Fuente-based squad. It was a gruesome defeat at the championship last season at the hands of the two-time champions Red team, hence they're on a 4 game winning streak this season not until they cross path with the unfazed Stallions.
The championship game last season was considered by many the greatest game that the league held or even at the history of the very basketball court. The large and loud crowd was tantamount with the very physical and high caliber in game actions that escalate the rivalry into a classic spectacle that everybody enjoyed. With these two teams clashing once again, the attention of the world is called for to witness a history in the making.
Red Team sported their new but season-veteran player 'Buljak' on the first quarter along with the much older teammate 'Putoy' with their supporting cast. On the White side of things, Stallions stick with the standard rotation but with a more determined mindset. Red Team is known for their 'speed kill' tactic that they effectively enforce in order to win games. Conventionally they conduct the trapping on second quarter thoroughly until the end. However, it wasn't the case this time around. Ruthlessly they imposed the pressure right in the on set which caught the Stallions by surprise.
The Stallions seem troubled for a bit but the familiarity of breaking the harassment came into play. In contrast, forward Jag Galvez answered with an emphatic rejection on 'Buljak' amidst the heated first quarter which turned the team into frenzy. Stallions started to pick up the pace and tied the ball game at piece, 29-29 at the end of the regulation.
The second quarter is the time for the Stallions' formidable full-house; Aguilars & Nodalos. However they started flat as Red's former MVP Orca, and reigning MVP Ferrer-- pioneers of the fearsome trapping --showcased the very reason why they're entitled for the season awards. Their full-court pressure was on again, this time they executed very well. Turnovers are beginning to pile up for the Stallions thus offensive opportunities were earned by the Red Team to get themselves ahead with a double-digit margin. The streak shooting pair of Sanchez and Failan brought headache to the zone defense of the Stallions together with former commissioner Paradero who led several hoops combined. Jay-Ar Nodalo and Joseph Aguilar made their fair share of offense but the defense of the opposition was so much that ended the halftime with a large deficit.
The last half commenced with the same tone, yet the quarter was troublesome. Red's lead amounted to twenty plus points. Jeg Gilongos, Stallions' rookie forward, fouled out immediately. Nevertheless Wilson De Leon is hitting lay-ups after another which give the Stallions a fighting chance onward the last quarter.
The final quarter seemed like a smooth-sailing for the Red. However Stallions doesn't have any plan of giving up the game. Stallions inserted a fast line-up to catch up with the quickness of the opponent, also a counter full-court pressure was operated design to wear them out since they were harassing since the start. Fatigue was knocking on the doors of the Red Team as they're committing turnovers, a sign that the counter-harass was effective. Wilson De Leon was unstoppable in the paint as he mounts a possible come back that the Stallions are opting to achieve but the clock was considered an opponent as it wasn't on our side.
5 minutes remaining - Stallions are still down by 19 points. Red Team is getting ready for a celebration because seemingly it's impossible to lose on such situation not until they found out the result after the time expires. The Stallions are persistent with the full-court pressure which eventually hasten the pace of the game to their favor because Red team is starting to feel the fatigue wherein they spent their energy harassing since start. Stallions geared up, defense is working efficiently with clock winding down. Joseph Aguilar is working hard at both ends of the court still believing on a possible come back. Speaking of return, Nanat Aguilar substituted back to the game as he forced a mind game against 'Buljak' which created turmoil between them.
3 minutes remaining - Stallions switch the gear to a faster throttle, with little time remaining. All they can do is to give it their all. Eric Sudiacal, rookie guard, was a big help at the back court. His long stamina was fit for an enduring game and the speed that he can perform for the team contributed to the near come back at the last minutes of the game. Mykee Nodalo, the cheeky player that he is, planted an elbow drop to the former MVP Orca which hurt more the confuse game play of Red Team. Moreover Mykee did have an amazing sharp assist on a transition that electrify the team of having a real game down the stretch. Jay-Ar Nodalo had a couple of important three points before fouling out. Still down in the paint, Don Nodalo is power personified inside as he man handled the defense, scoring significant points in crunch time.
The momentum swings toward the Stallions. The game was played on Red's terms (fast-oriented game) but this time, they're already breathing on their mouths. Head coach, Elmer Galvez' good recognition of phasing his players paid off big time at the last stretch of the nail-biting contest. Wilson De Leon is still capable of more since he was rested properly thus having a well-composed mindset. In addition he was really verse on scoring, bridging the gap to a seemingly impossible feat that the Stallions did on the last seconds of the ball game. The impossible was done by the Stallions on a lay-up plus a freethrow which was perfected by the captain ball, Wilson De Leon, that finally gave the lead.
The complexion of the ball game entirely changed on the final 6 seconds of the game. Elmer Galvez instructed a 3-2 zone defense, on a time-out, which is designed to protect the 3 point line to disrupt attempt to tie the score. As expected Red Team, shoot from beyond the arc but it was off the line, courtesy of an effective counter defense. It was a good defensive adjustment on an appropriate situation-- good instruction made by Elmer Galvez. The final buzzer sound with a score of 130-125, an exhilarating victory for the Stallions.
The Stallions gave them their own dose of medicine. Thanks to Jog Galvez' pointers, it was a mere helpful and handy for a guideline but the counter full-court press was unprecedented that helped the team to catch-up quickly on the dying minutes of the game. Red Team was outplayed in their own fast pace game which everybody thought as a suicide if a team would engage them in such but proven wrong by the Stallions. They're vulnerable and able to be defeated on a running-game.
