Blue Team emerged champion in the 1st SBG-O&M Inter-Color Basketball Tournament 2014, beating stubborn Yellow Team 99-98 in a thrilling final game.

Seldom-used Reynand Gomez was the game hero as his last seconds daredevil drive to the basket enabled Blue to escape with the victory.

For most of the game no team was in control of the game. The sides kept exchanging leads throughout the game and it was decided only in the last 36 seconds.

With 39 seconds remaining and no more time-out for both teams, Blue’s lead was cut to 2 points 96-94 on a basket by Julius Oculam of Yellow.

An interception by Ritchel Malunes paved the way for a quick Yellow basket that tied the game at 96 all with 25 seconds to play.

Rey Apal then missed both two free throws for Blue after he was fouled to stop the clock. Malunes drew a foul by Jorge Balmadrid while grabbing the defensive rebound and converted both charities to give Yellow the lead at 98-96, time down to 19 seconds.

A quick foul by Yellow team sent Reynand Gomez to the line but he split his freebies for 98-97 to Yellow. Malunes rebounded the ball but was caught stepping on the baseline to give possession to Blue, 15 seconds left. But Blue turned the ball over when Gerome Asumbrado intercepted the inbound play but he missed a potential go-ahead layup and tapped the ball out of bounds.

With 8 seconds remaining , Gomez , after receiving the inbounds pass, raced the length of the court and threw a hail mary shot that swished the net, 99-98, with 1 second left. Pandemonium broke loose in the bench of Blue Team as it celebrated the victory.

The third place went to White Team and Black Team finished fourth.

The organizing committee, players and team coaches wished to thank the Ali Bin Kadasah (administration manager), Ghassan Hussami (administration consultant), Sajid Bandri (sports coordinator), Ismael Aliudin (commissioner) and Lemuel Dizon (team coordinator) for their full support in making the tournament a big success.

1st Mythical Five: Best Center Edgar Dawe (Blue); Best Forwards Jose Jonnie Banga (Blue) & Julius Oculam (Yellow); Best Guards Ritchel Malunes (Yellow) & Anold Mamaradlo. Most Valuable Player Edgar Dawe.

2nd Mythical Five: Genesis Vergara (Yellow), Lemuel Dizon (Black), Teodoro Abao (Black), Jason Lomugdang (White) and Artemio Malingin (White).

The scores:

Blue Team (99) Reynand Gomez 26, Jomari Batangas 19, Edgar Dawe 17, Jose Jonnie Banga 14, Arnold Mamaradlo 10, Jorge Balmarid 8, Jun Ybanez 2, Omar Abdulrajik 2

Yellow Team (98) Ritchel Malunes 37, Julius Oculam 18, Genesis Vergara 15, Gerome Asumbrado 13, Kenneth Calimpong 8, Renante Jao 3, Harry Gentiles 2, Glen Tolones 2