FD BASKETBALL NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS

By Robert Balajadia

The host class of the annual FD Alumni Basketball Tournament, Class of 2004, turned up an new presentation style, a remix if you will with ’04’s DJ J. Pogi at the booth, setting up the first ever pre-tournament games featuring two of the tournaments youngest teams in 2012 and 2013 while also letting the past two champions go at it between 2006 and the new champions in 2014.

OLD CHAMPS FIND NEW WAYS TO WIN

Referring to a group of 26 year old men as “old” is ludicrous, but they are the old champions since the newest FD champs are the class of 2014.

Just when it seemed like the new guys were going to show up the five-time alumni tournament champs while leading by seven points in the final minute, the Class of ’06 rallied for a 64-62 win behind the 29 points of Julius Yu and rugged defense down the stretch.

With 2014 playing without Bruce Merrill, who fouled out late in the second half, 2006 took full advantage.

Trailing 60-54 in the final 30 seconds, Yu took an inbound pass on the sideline and fired away at a three pointer while getting hacked on the play to cut the lead 60-57.

Yu would miss the free throw, but teammate Pascual Artero was able to grab the missed shot and hit a layup while getting fouled to trim the lead 60-59. Artero would make the free-throw to tie the game.

2014 got a layup to go to retake the lead followed by free throws from 2006 to cut the lead 62-61 with 10 seconds left in the game.

On the inbound, ’06’s AJ Reyes stole the ball and tossed it ahead to Yu who made layup to give ’06 the lead 63-62 with less than four seconds to go.

The following inbound played out perfectly for ’06 as Reyes was practically gifted the ball once more as he tossed it to teammate Brian Aflague who made the first free throw while intentionally missing the second free throw to end the game completing the insane comeback from 2006.

Class of 2006’s Brian Aflague makes an easy layup after a steal in transition. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

2013 BEATS 2012 IN AN OLD FASHION SHOOTOUT

For two of the younger teams in the league, the rivalry between the classes looked somewhat old fashioned.

Both classes had a chance to take the lead in the final minute, but instead both classes went into a shootout after two halves of basketball left the score at 43.

2012 got a big lift from the streaky shooter Glenn Gogue going 4-5 from deep finishing with 14 points in the game. Gogue’s timely three pointers kept 2013 from pulling away in the second half.

2013 had possession of the ball in the final minute and tried to shave as much time off the clock as they could before John Baza tried to work his way through the middle of the defense sending up a runner that hit the wrong parts of the rim allowing 2012 to gain control in the final 23 seconds.

2013’s Michael Sakazaki gets a big block on the fast break. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

2012 initially allowed Christian “Smiley” Payumo to take an isolation play to try and hit the go-ahead basket, but Payumo quickly found himself stuck between 2013’s Michael Sakazaki forcing him to toss the ball to teammate John Ilao who was forced into fade way three pointer over taller defenders that fell feet short of the basket sending the game into a shootout.

After cycling through the best five shooters only one person from each team made a three pointer forcing a second go around.

Ilao had a chance to send the game into a third shootout trailing 2-1, but his shot bounced around the rim before rolling out giving 2013 the victory.

PHOTO GALLERY:

2013’s John Ilao was cooking from distance scoring the teams first nine points all from behind the arc. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

2006’s Julius Yu dribbles past the defense of 2014. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Class of 2006’s Brian Aflague makes an easy layup after a steal in transition. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

2006’s Julius Yu spots up and hits a deep three pointer over 2014’s Bruce Merrill. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

2012’s John Ilao misses the game tying shot in the shoot out. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

2013’s John Baza tries to get the tough layup to go. (photo by Robert Balajadia)