There’s a new king of the hard court in the STI Sports Cup as the up and coming Balagtas side survived perennial powerhouse and last season’s champion West Negros University in the National Basketball Finals, but the volleybelles from this proud institution from Bacolod kept their place in their throne by outlasting their rivals from Bulacan.
Balagtas and West Negros University rekindled their rivalry in the STI Sports Cup, but this time, no team has the monopoly of ruling both disciplines as one squad emerged and proved the time has come to rule the men’s basketball competition, while another team reaffirmed its dominance and came up with a statement performance in volleyball.
The cagers from Balagtas outlasted the previous champion of the National Basketball Tournament as the holdovers from the team that suffered a painful finals loss at the hands of West Negros University atoned themselves against the new breed of hoopers from the south.
This time, Balagtas was able to get the job done in a vengeful way, pulling off a gripping 68-67 squeaker during the finals held last June 19 at the Eusebio Tanco Gymnasium inside STI Ortigas-Cainta.
The duo of Euniel Balneg, named this season’s Most Valuable Player, and Lawrence Cacanog flexed their muscles inside the shaded lane, but they got plenty of help from the heady plays of Kenshin Gelo Rasing, who preserved his best for last in this event supported by Smart Sports, the streaming partner of the STI Sports Cup, the Philippine Sports Commission, Gerry’s Grill and Buffalo’s Wings and Things.
Rasing, the shifty center from Balagtas, pumped in 20 points to go along with six rebounds, four blocks and a steal in a solid all-around game to complement the two front court men, who cracked the Mythical Five.
Balagtas survived their rivals in a game of spurts, but in the end proved to be steadier against an overhauled yet equally formidable West Negros University side, which decided to bring in new set of players to shore up its roster this season.
Unbeaten in all three matches, the road to the championship didn’t appear smooth-sailing though for Balagtas, which encountered turbulent moments before winning the big one.
On opening day when some of local sports’ notable personalities headed by multi-titled PBA coach Yeng Guiao, his player at the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters Keith Datu, Commissioner Walter Torres of the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Table Tennis Federation president Ting Ledesma graced the event, Balagtas went off to a rousing start by whipping Koronadal, 81-60.
But on the second day, Balagtas flirted with disaster when it battled Balayan, a team which made it to semifinal round by virtue of a wildcard entry as being the team with the least margin of defeat. Balagtas nosed out a 91-87 triumph against a hard-fighting counterpart from Batangas.
In the finals, Balagtas grinded it out against a crack West Negros University side, which ran out of time in mounting a last-second rally and fell short.
Volleybelles saving grace of West Negros U
As the cagers of West Negros University started to give way to the new champions in the hard court in Balagtas, the volleybelles had no plans of relinquishing the crown to their fierce rivals.
These lasses from Bacolod stamped their mark anew, sweeping their rivals in straight sets, 25-21, 25-21, 25-17, as their dominance proved no indications of slowing down.
Leading the charge for West Negros U’s volleyball team’s rampage was Lorie May Destora, this season’s MVP, who also got plenty of support from Erich Iballa, the lean, but equally athletic stopper, and the rest of the team which made valuable contributions in completing yet another unbeaten season.
West Negros University’s volleybelles went on to secure all three matches and what’s even more impressive was they never lost a set in all those encounters, a fitting testament at how solid the school’s program that is envied and emulated by many.
