WHILE the 24-year-old tandem of Michael Daigdigan and Tarotoy Remoto were the life-blood of Team Baba’s campaign, the underrated pair of Loloy Casiño and Hash Villorente had their share of making the Pro Audio-backed dribblers as this year’s champions of the Green CdeO Eagles Club 3rd President’s Cup Inter-Color basketball tourney at the SPC covered court here.
The center-forward Casiño and the bulky guard Villorente combined for a total of four triples in the homestretch as Team Baba rallied from 12-point first half deficit to defeat Team Oki Doki Doc, 79-73 for the crowning glory.
A hard drive by Villorente off three defenders also averted the Marvin Neri-led Team Doki from pulling off a breakthrough when the game entered the last 4 minutes of the fourth quarter.
“Nahatagan pud ko’g chance nga makatira og tres kay nilugak man ang depensa sa ibabaw,” later said the former football standout Villorente, who became the tourney’s most controversial figure due to his abrasive mouth against officiating.
Team Doki, with Waway Arocha, Samboy Uy and Ariel Uayan also beefing up its frontline, controlled the half with tight defense and good passing play. But after the rebounding ace Uayan suffered a cut on his eye brow, momentum shifted and Team Doki was never the same again.
“Among duha ka batan-on gyod (Daigdigan and Remoto) ang gadala sa dula. Apan s’werte kay tanan nag-contribute (JL Aquino, Ervin John Donato, Fred Pimentel) especially Hash and LoyCas sa fourth quarter,” team manager engineer Arnel Baba told VoxPop Cagayan de Oro.
Team Baba’s triumph also sustained a smoldering tradition that whoever heads the club will win the club’s annually-held tourney.
Conrado Gomez’s Team Alam Na did it in the first President’s Cup. And Dr. Wilbourne Neri’s White Stallions followed suit in the second President’s Cup.
“This year, mao gihapon wala gituyo kay grabe paningkamot mga batos ni Doki pero ni-champ man gyod sila Kuya Arnel. Pressure kaayo ang sunod nga ma-presidente sa club,” one club member, said.
