’13 HOLDS OFF LATE ’16 CHARGE IN FD HOOPS

By Daniel Akimoto

In a highly anticipated showdown between two former champions, the Class of 2013 held off a furious late-game rally from the Class of 2016 to secure a gritty 46-42 victory in pool play of the 2026 FDMS Alumni Basketball Tournament.

This highly physical, competitive clash served as a massive test for 2016 squad, who had to navigate the physical battle without the presence of Leon Shimizu. Despite the absence, 2016 proved they’re still able to go blow-for-blow with the division’s heavyweights, pushing the game right down to the final second.

Early Fireworks and Baza’s Answer

2016 wasted no time making their presence felt early in the first half, showing no signs of hesitation. Brandon Eusebio set the tone immediately, hitting three spectacular, highly contested fadeaway jumpers directly over 2013’s paint anchor, Michael Sakazaki, to give 2016 an early cushion.

However, the championship pedigree of 2013 quickly showed. 2013 locked down on the defensive end. John Baza translated that defensive intensity into offensive fireworks, draining a series of tough, contested three-pointers to erase the deficit and swing the momentum completely. By the time the buzzer sounded for halftime, 2013 had built a comfortable 29-20 lead.

2016 Chips Away, Glass Battle Decides the Half

2013 carried that momentum into the second half, maintaining steady control of the tempo. But the resilient 2016 squad refused to go away quietly. Stepping up their defensive intensity, 2016 began forcing turnovers and turning stops into lightning-fast transition points.

With 4:30 remaining on the clock, 2013’s lead had shrunk to 43-36. A minute later, a quick bucket by 2016 brought them within six, 44-38, with just 3:16 left.

As the game grew increasingly physical down the stretch 2013’s veteran size proved to be the ultimate equalizer. 2013 thoroughly controlled the boards on both the offensive and defensive ends, keeping possessions alive and burning precious seconds off the clock to halt 2016’s momentum.

The 4-Point Drama at the Buzzer

With 1:16 remaining, 2013 held a seemingly safe 46-40 lead. Yet, 2016 found another gear, getting a crucial stop and score to make it 46-42 with only 10 seconds left on the clock.

This set the stage for a dramatic finish, putting the tournament’s experimental 4-point spot—a new addition exclusive to this year’s pool play—directly into the spotlight.

Instead of opting for a quick two or a standard deep three, the 2016 went all-in for the tie. They executed their final play beautifully, finding a wide-open Frankie Tenorio at the designated 4-point mark. Tenorio got a clean look at the basket, but his shot didn’t find the basket as the final horn sounded, sealing the hard-fought four-point victory for 2013.

Box Score Leaders

Class of 2013

Michael Sakazaki: 18 points (game-high)

John Baza: 16 points (including 4 three-pointers)

Class of 2016

Josh Paulino: 15 points

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