FRIARS DEFEND HOME AGAINST GECKOS

By Robert Balajadia

The FD Friars celebrated their senior night with an 84-76 win over the GW Geckos, finishing off the regular season unbeaten at home (8-0). With the win, FD improves to 14-2 and locks up the top seed of the Gadao division while the Geckos fall to 11-4 and will finish their season against the Southern Dolphins on Friday.

Friars senior Tristan Jose led the team with 18 points and junior Isaiah Sablan added 13 off the bench as all five seniors in Jose, Justin Dimla, Troy Corpuz, Nick Clark and Jeffery Ochavilo started the game. GW’s Devin San Augustin led the balanced Geckos scoring with 10 points.

For the FD seniors, Tuesdays was their last regular season home game with the playoffs set to go down next weekend.

“It’s a bitter sweet feeling for me because it’s our last home game. I’m glad we finished this game strong and I’m really excited for the playoffs,” said Jose.

After a steal and great passing, Friars Justin Dimla takes it straight to the rim for an easy two points. (photo by Jose Perez)

The last time the two teams met, the Geckos built a large lead in the first half and the Friars stormed back to steal the game away from the home team Geckos. In their second meeting, it was the Friars who had a large lead after three quarters and the Geckos played the roll of the comeback kids.

With FD up 68-52 after three, both teams went heavy into their bench to begin the 4th period. Sparking the comeback for the Geckos was big-man Joshua Choun and Renz Brozo who hit on buckets to get within 70-58. Then guard Noah Blas dove into the teeth of the defense and converted on an and-one play to get within single digits 70-61.

Ochavilo and Jujuan King then snapped the Geckos run with fast break buckets to go up 75-61 appearing to recapture momentum with four minutes left. The Geckos starters made their way back into the game and forced the Friars into bad turnovers which resulted in fast break buckets for Mathew Soto, Nathaniel Kyle Gaitan, and Jacob Frias to get the score 75-69.

Dimly was then called for a technical foul where the Geckos converted to trim the lead 75-70 with under three mins left. Geckos Devin San Augustin then grabbed a big offensive board on a missed layup and converted on the two-foot shot to pull GW within a single possession 75-72.

Geckos Lester Gaitan passes the ball to an open Joshua Choun. (photo by Jose Perez)

Coming out of a timeout, Friars Sablan pulled up for a big-time three pointer to stretch the lead to six points. FD then forced a turnover and a difficult shot which led to two easy scores on the break by Friars Roy Taimanglo to go up 82-72.

“We just needed to breathe and we realized that we were making silly mistakes and we cleaned it up and finished strong. We made stops, finished our layups, and then hit open shots,” said Jose on stopping the Geckos run.

FD shaved off more than 40 seconds of the final minute-and-a-half of the game to secure the win.

Jose carried the Friars offensively in the first half where he score 15 of his 18 points. Jose explained the fast start to the game was all in the flow of the offense.

“We don’t specify anyone when we move the ball, we just run the offense. I just found the ball and found the hoop.”

Other Scores

JFK 91, St. John’s 53
FD 84, GW 76
Okkodo 58, Sanchez 28
ND 50, Tiyan 41

PHOTO GALLERY:

With Gecko defenders on his heels, a speedy Josh Paulino drives it hard to the rim. (photo by Jose Perez)

SKIP was the half time entertainment. (photo by Jose Perez)

Geckos Lester Gaitan loses the ball in the paint. (photo by Jose Perez)

Geckos Devin SanAgustin is fouled by Friars Justin Dimla. (photo by Jose Perez)

Geckos Allen Camacho gets his shot blocked by Friars Jujuan King. (photo by Jose Perez)