OCEANVIEW REPEAT CHAMPS OF FD MASTERS

By Robert Balajadia

For a team that has only been in the FD Masters Basketball Tournament for two years as honorary members, the Oceanview Knights are playing like they’ve been there every year. The Knights kept the title away from the Friar Alumni winning their second straight championship at the FD Jungle Sunday over the Class of ’99 with a 61-53 final.

Oceanview’s Oscar Espinosa poured in 20 big points and teammate Sandy Fejeran added 16, including clutch buckets in the final minutes to keep the Knights ahead.

’99 used a 6-0 to start the second half to tie the game at 30 points with FD’s Matt Acda giving the team a big boost arriving to the game just at halftime.

The Knights responded strong going on their own 8-0 led by two three pointers from Ron Taitague to go up 41-32. Both teams would trade buckets back and forth before Acda dished a pretty pass to teammate Brandon Ngata to get within 52-45, but a successful and-one play by big man Mike Quitugua to get the lead back to double digits.

Oceanviews Sandy Fejeran pulls up for a jump shot in transition. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Acda then drilled a three pointer under two minutes left getting the score within seven, 55-48, though Fejeran answered Acda’s triple with a shot of his own to reclaim the big lead.

Espinosa was on fire early hitting his first six shot attempts including three shots from behind the arch. ’99’s Derek Alcorn was responding to the deep shooting by getting three three-pointers to fall in the first half before the Knights managed to get late layups to head into the break with a 30-24 lead.

Class of ’99 was led in scoring by Will Valencia with 16 points while Alcorn added 11.

The Oceanview team full of some of the school’s best players has shaken up the Friars Masters tournament by denying any actual FD graduating class the title for two straight years, the only two years that has ever happened.

PHOTO GALLERY:

’99’s Derek Alcorn attempts a long three pointer in the first half. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Class of ’99’s Steve Kim uses post movies to get to the basket. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Oceanview’s Oscar Espinosa gets an open look for one of his first half three pointers. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Oceanview’s Joaquin Charfauros nails a fadeaway jumper. (photo by Robert Balajadia)