FRIARS HOLD OFF WARRIORS IN LONG-TIME HOOPS RIVALRY

By Shania Bulala

The Father Duenas Friars continued their dominant run in the ISA/IIAAG Boys Varsity Basketball League after securing a hard-fought victory against the St. Paul Warriors in a thrilling Friday night showdown 87-69 at the St. Paul gymnasium. Colin Baker led the charge for the Friars, scoring an impressive 22 points, while teammates Troy Dirige and Noah Tenorio contributed 13 points each.
On the Warriors’ side, Bless Aisek provided a strong offensive and defensive presence, putting up 12 points and making several key plays to keep his team in contention.

The 69 points given up by the Friars is the most by the FD defense this season.

First Half: Friars Take Early Control
Both teams came out aggressive, exchanging baskets in the opening minutes. The Friars held a slim 7-6 lead early on before ramping up defensive pressure and executing efficient ball movement. Their sharp shooting and transition offense allowed them to gradually pull away, building a 15-8 lead midway through the first quarter.

Colin Baker set the tone for the Friars, pouring in 13 points in the first quarter alone. The Friars capitalized on the early energy rush and extended their lead to 16 points by the end of the first period.

The Friars continued to dominate in the second quarter, extending their lead to as much as 28 points. They closed out the half with a commanding lead 51-28.

Second Half: Warriors Fight Back
Despite the deficit, the Warriors refused to go down without a fight. They came out with renewed intensity in the third quarter, going on a scoring run that gradually chipped away at the lead. Their improved ball movement and defensive stops allowed them to outscore the Friars 27-15 in the third quarter, narrowing the gap to 10 points heading into the final period.
Bless Aisek continued to be a driving force for the Warriors, contributing key baskets and defensive stops. The Warriors also forced the Friars into foul trouble, slowing down their offensive rhythm and giving St. Paul more opportunities at the free-throw line.

Fourth Quarter: Friars Hold Off Late Surge
The Warriors carried their momentum into the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to as little as seven points. But just when the game seemed to be slipping away, Troy Dirige stepped up big for the Friars by scoring nine crucial points in the final quarter, including two three-pointers and a key-and-one play that pushed the lead back to 18 points.

“I knew I had to be more aggressive. My coach told me to be more aggressive, and that’s what I did,” said Dirige.

With the game winding down, the Friars maintained control of the game by making key defensive stops and capitalizing on free throws to hold off the Warriors’ final push to secure an 87-69 victory.

As the regular season comes to a close, the Friars are in prime position to claim the top seed heading into the playoffs. With this latest win, the Friars extended their perfect record to 9-0, maintaining their status as the league’s only undefeated team. Meanwhile, the Warriors drop to 6-2.

Baker, who commended his team for their performance tonight, stated, “There’s always room for improvement, especially in the game of basketball. I think we played pretty solid, but there will always be things for us to fix. Our goal is to always step on the floor and play as a team and as a brotherhood. We try our best to be smart, be aggressive, and most importantly, have respect for the other team.”

The Friars are set to face the Okkodo Bulldogs next on Tuesday, February 25, at the OHS gymnasium. The junior varsity game will tip off at 5 pm, followed immediately by the varsity matchup.

OTHER FRIDAY GAMES

Southern 64, Okkodo 58 (2OT)

GW 123, CTECH 28

JFK 89, Guam High 25

Harvest 53, St. John’s 51

Tiyan 57, Notre Dame 53