RIYADH, 16 November — Speed, stamina and courage spelled the difference during the games last Thursday. The Dragon team of SPIS coached by Ryan Francial was unstoppable en route to their second straight win over the Yellow Tigers of IPSR. It was another cardiac game from start to finish marked by several deadlocks.
Led by Jerone Siron and assisted by Daryl Raymundo, Erwin Baladjay, Neil Apilado, Francis Nunag and Mark Dizon, the Dragons posted straight victories in the Power Horse Young Generation 1st Riyadh Inter-Schools Basketball Tournament 2001 sponsored by Power Horse Energy Drink and Pepsi-Cola here at the rubberized basketball court of Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers.
Yellow Tiger Mark Agahan blasted the first basket and won a gift pack from Power Horse Energy Drink that triggered the blistering exchange of basket between him and Jerone Siron of the Dragons. The first quarter ended to a deadlock at 19-all.
At the resumption of the 2nd quarter, stiff defenses were applied by both teams where the entry of Mohamad Jambongana for the Yellow Tigers added the needed support for rebound and a low post shots on the shaded area. The canto ended at a score of 34-32 in favor of the Yellow Tigers.
It was a turnaround on the 3rd quarter. The breaks of the game sided for the roaring Dragons with Jerone Siron, the Nunag brothers and Alfredo Hizon controlling the board while Erwin Baladjay, Mark Dizon, Riyan Pagano supplied their muscles for the under goal rebound and fast breaks closing the 3rd quarter 51-48 in favor of the Dragons.
At the whistle of the 4th quarter both teams were wary and tired as the 4 Yellow Tigers were nursing 4 fouls each while the 6 players of the Dragons have 4 fouls each. Both teams limited their movement and the fast phase of the tempo slowly subsided but the determination to win was still burning.
Dragon Jerone Siron, with 4 fouls on his shoulders, managed to survive and top scored in the game with 29 points. Mark Agahan recorded 22 points but was not enough to over-ride the final scores of 62-59 in favor of the Dragons.
The 2nd match between the Falcons (Millennium) and Al Maarefa hastened more vitality. Popey Dumrigue basketed 30 points while Dax Rodil, Brian Licodini, Melgar Dinio and Zosimo Calleja added the necessary muscles for the rebounds, which were not contained Al Maarefa boys of coach Salvador de la Cruz. Promising star player Jessie Reyes and the “pajama kid” Rejie Saliedo displayed their swiftness, acrobatic moves and showmanship. The final scores were 72-54 in favor of the Falcons.
