STORM CAN’T STOP FD ALUMNI TOURNEY

By Robert Balajadia

Not even the possibility of a tropical storm could keep the FD Alumni Tournament from rolling on Friday night featuring three games, but an even bigger crowd. With all the weekend’s sports activities being cancelled early on, the FD Alumni Tourney was barely in danger of having to postpone any action.

1991/98 – 48, 2000/01 – 34

Class of 91/98 jumped out to an early lead behind Romeo Sanchez and Jay Onedera kept 2000/01’s streaky scorers Nick Santos and Frank Perez under wraps to get the big victory.

Onedera scored eight of the teams first 14 points as 91/98 held a 16-5 lead through the first seven minutes. Santos and teammate Jude Lizama started to find each other off pick and rolls cutting the once double-digit lead to 21-13 before halftime.

Romeo Sanchez drives the ball for two of his 18 points. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Sanchez game up big in the second half scoring majority of his 18 points in the half to stretch the game in favor of the upper class men going up 41-21 with less than 10 minutes left.

00/01 managed to score quickly in garbage time, but the game appeared won midway through the second half as 91/98’s lead went over 20 points.

2004 – 63, 430 – 58

The host class of 2004 were tested against the combined class of 90/94/95, but a lights out shooting performance from Matt Leon Guerrero was enough to give 04 the edge. Leon Guerrero had five three pointers while scoring 21 points as Rob Stoll and Touso Aflague led 430 with 12 points each.

1996/97- 55, 1995 – 42

The old-school rivalry between the two classes was a lot closer than the score suggested with 95 cutting the lead to just five points in the second half. 96/97’s Luis Blanco and Eddie Pelkey turned up the defensive intensity down the stretch getting easy fast break buckets to pull away.

Jay Leon Guerrero of 95 tries to create space against 96/97. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Blanco had 14 points while Pelkey had 13 as the group survived a great shooting performance down the stretch from 95’s Lawrence Fejeran, who finished with 17 points. 95 was playing without EJ Calvo who they are expecting to get back come playoff time.

FD Tournament Action continues to roll through the weekend with the first round of the playoffs kicking off Saturday night and all day Sunday.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Jude Lizama od 2000/01 pulls up for a jumper. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Jay Onedera gets in the paint for two of his early eight points. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Lawrence Fejeran uses a pick to score against 96/97. (photo by Robert Balajadia)