Airnet, GCT, Tropapips win titles in OFBL 1st Conference

JEDDAH: When a big game is on the line, expect the big-time players to take over.
In a battle of two of the best players, Alturas and Dondon Guanzon found themselves in a scoring duel in the game between Airnet and Butler. In the end, it was Alturas who got the job done and won MVP (Most Valuable Player) honors in the 2012 Salvador “Boy” Teves Basketball Tournament organized by the Overseas Filipino Basketball League (OFBL) at Time-out Sports Academy on Television Street, Ghulail District on the outskirts of Jeddah.
Al-Zugbi Sports Tailoring, Art’s Cuisine, Pepsi and Amaia Land sponsored this successful OPBL 1st Conference.
The Airnet standout scored 10 of his 23 points in the fourth period, all of which came in a key juncture, as Airnet survived a gritty challenge from Butler boys to score a come-from behind 76-74 triumph and seal the Inter-Commercial A division title.
Despite his left hand injury he sustained in Game 2, Alturas held his own against the big guys of Butler. Alturas had back-back baskets at the weak side against the tight defense of Dela Paz, including a reversed layup with 12 seconds left that pegged the score at 76-74. Butler had a chance to send the game into overtime with Guanzon in charge but Airnet worked a defensive stop. Butler was forced to give up a foul with only 1 second left in the game and the eventual MVP took to the line and intentionally missed the two free throws before the final buzzer sounded.
GCT never gave any chance to Rabya, winning by 74-68 and sweeping the Inter-Company Bona fide championship series.
Rabya had a chance to tie the series but GCT was determined to finish the job. The big guys of Rabya, Salud and Emancio combined for 21 points but in the second half especially in the third canto, Salud hit foul trouble because of good defense applied by GCT, which managed to tie at 48 on Nava’s two consecutive booming threes and Abad’s sallies in the painted area.
In the final quarter, Nava added three baskets from beyond the arc, Dorren set up good plays for Abad underneath and Mahilum was almost perfect in mid-range for him to collect the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award with 26 points.
Tropapips defeated Ulker 96-86 to win the Inter-Commercial B championship series two games to one.
In the early minutes of the game, Leo Tablante led the way for Ulker, but the point guard Montano Dela Cruz spearheaded a Tropapips revival in the second half that saw them play tremendous defense on Tablante and company. Dela Cruz finished with 21 points and was named MVP.
The awardees are as follows: Inter-Commercial A — Alturas (MVP), Daham, Ismael, Bristol, Dela Paz and Greson (mythical five selection); Inter-Company Bona fide — Mahilum (MVP), Nava, Abad, Salud, Eliutrio and Antonio (mythical five selection); Inter-Commercial B — Montano Dela Cruz (MVP), Gadingan, Taguba, Dorado, Tablante and Torres (mythical five selection).
The Basketball Referees Group (BRG) of Lito Dela Cruz officiated the tournament. Pinoy Photographers Club (PPC) provided the OFBL photo coverage.
Meanwhile, due to the popular demand from most of the teams that participated in the last tournament, the 2nd OFBL Reinforced Conference will start Nov. 16. More than 50 teams have signified their intention to participate in the tournament with the theme “Liga natin ito” (This is our league).

— With input from Janus Napuecas Gella