IBP-Cebu Basketball League
CEBU, Philippines — The Dissenting Bad Boys whipped up a furious offensive storm in the third quarter, then played cool under heavy fire at crunchtime on the way to dethrone the Gilas Defenders via a 72-70 cliffhanger in their sudden-death final match to emerge as new champions of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu Basketball League at the Capitol Parish gym.
It was a tale of sweet revenge for the Dissenting Bad Boys, who were ousted by the Gilas Defenders in the semifinals last season. The Gilas Defenders went on to clinch the championship after outlasting the Super Idols.
The Gilas Defenders were poised to retain their crown as they raced to a 21-16 start behind the hot hands of Van Ligutan and Frank Dinsay.
With Dinsay and Roel Juban leading the charge, the defending champs continued to outplay the Bad Boys in the second period, 16-7, to mount a 14-point advantage at halftime, 37-23.
After the short break, however, a seemingly full-charged Bad Boys of team owners Fiscal Bads del Prado and Mark Rosal came out firing and executed a nearly flawless fightback.
Playing with renewed challenge, Fiscal Ryan Sojor, Richard Bauzon, Judge Ferdie Riveral and Kenneth Kernn Sesante joined forces in launching a lighting 23-7 attack to overhaul their deficit and give the Bad Boys a 46-44 headway going into the final 10-minute mark.
The Bad Boys maintained a six-point edge in the last three minutes of play, but the Gilas Defenders, flashing a never-say-die spirit, countered with a 7-0 blitz to regain the upperhand by just a hairline.
Sesante and Noel Bragat, however, showed nerves of steel when it mattered most by calmly sinking their pressure-packed free throws in the dying seconds of the contest to vault the Bad Boys to crowning glory.
Sesante dropped 10 of his 12 points in the final half, while Bragat finished with six points spiked with the game-clinching free throws.
Sojor topscored for the Bad Boys with 15 points followed by Richard Bauzon with 14 markers.
“A stunning win by an underdog and bunch of old guys. Down by 17 and we managed to cut the lead and ultimately winning by 2 points. A great team effort, unselfish plays, and finishes by Fiscal Ryan Sojor,” said Bad Boys team manager Jonas Asis.
The other members of the Bad Boys are Weng Dumon, Edward Bauzon,Fiscal Jepoy Badilles, Deo Albeos, Patrick Esmeralda, Fiscal Narido, Gio Sususco, Reyner Apolinario, Archie Puspus, and Tadz Tumaodos.
Dinsay and Ligutan the Gilas Defenders with 29 combined points, while Juban nailed 11 markers in a losing effort.
The scores
Dissenting Bad Boys (72) – Sojor 15, R. Bauzon 14, Sesante 12, Bragat 6, E. Bauzon 5, Apolinario 5, Riveral 4, Albeos 4, Dumon 3, Badilles 2, Asis 2
Gilas Defenders (70) – Dinsay 15, Ligutan 14, Juban 11, Ajoc 9, Remedio 6, Gepolongo 3, Lagahit 3, Ang 3, Hupp 3, Arnaiz 2, Valecer 1
Quarterscores:16-21;23-37;46-44;72-70. (FREEMAN)