Nerves cost Sea Eagles U15 midgets grand final in Castle Hill-NSW-Australia
By Niro0 Royce
Castle Hill-NSW-Australia
April 6, 2015
A SLIGHT drop in concentration at the critical last five minutes of the game cost the Sea Eagles U15 midgets dearly, allowing Patriots 3 to pull away and take The Hills boys division-A grand final, 44-36, at the Hills Sports Stadium on Monday, March 30, 2015.
It was a tight contest, with the Sea Eagles trailing the Patriot early before assuming the lead at the break.
It took a couple of minutes before the Patriots struck with two baskets.
The Sea Eagles came on board with their first basket to bring the score to 6-2. The teams were scoring baskets steadily, with the Patriots holding on to the lead by 2 baskets and the Sea Eagles playing catch-up.
Towards the latter part of the first half, Sea Eagles coach Roger Mantua called time-out to map out tactics. Back on Court, Sea Eagles went on to take tby lead of 9 points with excellent rebounds, turn-overs and lay-ups.
The first half had the Sea Eagles leading 19-13.
In the second half, the teams tied at 19-All and then again at 26-All.
The Sea Eagles racked upthe fouls, which the Patriots used to advantage.
In the last 40 seconds, Sea Eagles were leading 36 to 33 when Patriots tied the score with a 3-pointer. It was 36-36 at the buzzer. The game then went into over-time.
The Sea Eagles began to feel the pressure, coach Mantua barked instructions which seemed to fall on deaf ears as errors and fouls stunted their play.
The Patriots on the other hand scored 3-pointers and sunks their foul-throws to seal the grand final, 44-36.
Not bad for the Sea Eagles midgets very first season at a team, which comprised captain Royce Mantua, Kwabena Brefo, Rishon Royce, Isaiah Minami, Damian Hampstead, Jack Phang, and Rubens You who was unable to play.
The Sea Eagles midgets trip to the grand final was as follows:
Sea EaglesbtRedfield Raptors, 46-22.
Sea Eagles bt Blazers, 24-23.
Sea Eagles bt Hoopsters, 46-29.
Sea Eagles lost to Patriots, 21-29.
Sea eagles bt Redfield Raptors, 38-30.
Sea Eagles lost to Blazers, 28-34.
Falcons, Bombers up front in 2015 Philippine Colleges and Universities Alumni Basketball tournament (Marrickville-NSW-Australia)
By Jaime K. Pimentel
Marrickville-NSW-Australia
April 6, 2015
It was the second year of the collegiate basketball tournament, this time opening with a colourful ceremony that featured teams marching in with their attractive muses, a mala-haka chant by La Salles team led by cheerleader El Miguel.
The 2014 Miss Charity Princess Desa Santos sang the Philippine national anthem, followed by the Maroons muse Jasmine Henry who sang the Australian anthem.
Special guest Philippine Consul and University of the Philippines alumnus Marford Angeles, gave a pep talk before tossing the first ball for the opening game between the Bombers and Angeles Selection.
In Group B, last years champion Angeles Universities Jets went down to the Bombers, 41-59, in the opening game. The Cardinals defeated the Mechanics, 57-32; Bombers defeated the Mechanics, 50-42, and the Jets rolled the Cardinals, 76-58.
In group A, the Falcons demolished the Maroons, 41-22; the Sea Eagles and the Archers drew, 56-56; the Falcons trounced the Archers 61-49; the Falcons sunk the Maroons, 63-23; and the Sea Eagles blasted the Maroons, 63-23.
The next round of elimination games takes place on Sunday, April 12. The semi-finals and grand final take place on from 9am on Sunday, April 19.
The Falcons Alyssa Manalo was picked muse of the day, followed by runners-up Chantelle Torres of the Cardinals Chantelle Torres and Gabby Escubio of the Mechanics.
The Bombers won the trophy for the best uniform.