Back-to-back champions: Warriors sweep 2nd Conference, defeats OGs in the Finals

Team Warriors solidified its dominance in the APCRAA Alumni Basketball Tournament (AABT) as they outmastered Team OGs in their championship game, 71-59, to secure the 2nd Conference crown on Saturday, December 12, at the APC Gymnasium.

With the finals victory, the Warriors kept their record unblemished, with no loss suffered during the entire tournament.

Five of the Warriors scored in double figures, led by Archie Gratil with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. RJ Villegas scored 15 points, including 2 assists. Pepe Canseco had a double-double game with 13 points and 19 rebounds plus 2 steals and 3 blocks. Ron Perez also had a double-double game with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

On the other side, Team OGs’ Jon Batuhan scored most of their points with 29, followed by Ryan Vincent Go with 10 points. The trio of Paolo Diaz, JP Redelick and Mhar Paraiso, who catapulted the team to the championship after their excellent performance in the semifinals, had an off-night. Diaz only made 2 out of his 14 tries in the field, while Paraiso and Redelick only got one field goal made each.

The game got intense as both teams got a fair share of the lead in the first half of the game. Emotions ran high at the 1:09 mark of the third quarter as George Nartia and Mhar Paraiso had heated exchanges after a rebound play. Referees had to restrain both players and were given technical fouls.

Meanwhile, Ryan Artymiak of Team OGs and Daryl Favila of Team Warriors were ejected after they entered the playing court from the bench during the scuffle.

Team Warriors held on to a five-point lead going into the final quarter.

A Warriors’ 16-0 run on Q4 broke the game wide open, as Team OGs failed to make a field goal for more than six minutes in the quarter. Jon Batuhan orchestrated a 6-0 run going into the last two minutes of the game, but continued missed shots from his teammates still persisted, reducing their chances to bring the Warriors’ lead down to a single digit.

Boxscores (click here for full stats):

Warriors (71): Gratil 16, Villegas 15, Canseco 13, Dela Cuesta 11, Perez 10, Favila 3, Nartia 2, Jabile 1, Castillan 0, Monera 0, Amparo 0, Battung 0

OGs (59): Batuhan 29, Go 10, Diaz 6, Redelick 6, Paraiso 4, Aotay 2, Rivera 2, Agito 0, Yardan 0, Viray 0, Pitallar 0, Artymiak 0

Quarterscores: 16-16, 32-28, 50-45, 71-59