PLAYING with focus and composure, the veterans-laced Theowill finally scored a first-ever win against long-time tormentor Stampede, 108-96 on Wednesday night's Open division championship of the 2022 Bonbon Summer Basketball League in Cagayan de Oro City.
Slowing down in the third after controlling the half, Theowill reactivated the foul-troubled playmaker Jerome Menaling in the fourth and final quarter to bring in the best of his fast-breaking younger brother Jhunry Menaling and the huge troika of Jun Daanoy, Wellan Muñoz, and Earl John Fuentes-Ibot.
Together, they helped erased a five-point deficit, 81-86 built by Stampede after Ljay Aquino’s acrobatic layup over Jhunry and Rudjud Daga’s inside move in the opener of the payoff period.
Macmac Labares turned to be Stampede’s most brilliant piece in the first three quarters as he strung up six three-pointers, including a reverse layup from the baseline that underscored Theowill’s concerted effort on both ends of the floor.
There were also Steph Curry-like moments for the sharp-shooting Aquino who rippled a basket twice from near midcourt range to their yellow shirt-wearing fans’ great delight.
But in the final five minutes of play, Stampede committed back-to-back turnovers that gave life to the Menaling siblings’ menacing fastbreak combo and a balance-scoring assault of Daanoy, Muñoz, and Fuentes-Ibot as Theowill regained the lead, 88-82.
Two more seamless three-pointers from Jerome Menaling and Theowill’s own supporters could not help but celebrate with still over two minutes left for the obvious ending.
“Bag-o lang namatay si Manong Abdon ang papa nilang Menaling, bale ila ning i-dedicate nga championship,” one spectator said.
Aquino, whose 17 rings in the post-pandemic season were achieved mostly with Stampede, has congratulated Theowill for winning for the first time in as many encounters with his team.
“They played a great game tonight. Portante lang na lipay lingaw ang manan-away,” Aquino told Gold Star Daily.
Daanoy and Muñoz paced Theowill with 27 and 21 points each as Jhunry, Jerome and Fuentes-Ibot added 18, 17, and 14 markets apiece.
Stampede got 27 and 25 from Labares and Daga as Aquino and Bobong Villaruel doled out 15 and 10 points, respectively.
Brgy Bonbon chair Allan ‘Bobong’ Mabalacad was thankful for the success of the summer league under the supervision of SK chair Jefford Jadap.
“We canceled it on Sunday kay dili ma-control ang crowd. Duot gihapon karon, pero at least na manage ra,” Mabalacad said.
The scores:
Theowill 108--Daanoy 27, Muñoz 21, Menaling Jhun 18, Menaling Her 17, Fuentes-Ibot 14, Guiniritan 8, Go 3, Halasan 0, Babia 0, Yabo 0, Pepito 0, Yabo 0.
Stampede 96--Labares 27, Daga 25, Aquino 15, Villaruel 10, Villarosa 7, Orig 4, Sollano 2, Custan 2, Gamos 2, Jael 2, Amper 0, Gorit 0, Palomar 0, Daigdigan 0.
