Organizers, coaches meet to evaluate Tournament

CEBU CITY (09 September 2009) — Organizers of the 1st BTC Cup have invited the coaches of all the 87 participating teams and their sports coordinators for an evaluation meeting on Friday, Sept. 11.

They will gather by 3PM at Dimsum Break, the same venue in Banilad Town Centre where they met twice before the start of the 2009 edition of Thirsty Hoop Jams.

Commissioner Cerwin T. Eviota, also marketing director of BTC, presides the coordination meeting at Dimsum Break BTC with coaches a week before the start of the 4-weekend 3-on-3 tournament.

“We need your valuable feedback on the way we organized and conducted the tournament,” noted Cerwin T. Eviota, the tournament commissioner, in his invitation circular.

He said they wanted to take note of  “those that concern our mistakes and missed takes … so that we could pro-act should we decide to pursue a 2nd BTC Cup in 2010.”

“As we had no benchmark when we started to organize the tournament, it is very important for us to be aware and take note of what we must do, improve on, avoid or prevent so that we will be conscious about these and give them due attention next time,” he pointed out.

As organizers, Eviota said, they took notes during the progress of the month-long tournament. “But now we need the points of view of the coaches, their players and their fans,” he explained.

Players and their parents and fans may ask their respective coaches to raise whatever concerns or observations they have had to the organizers, he added.

Anyone may also send their concerns by email to btc2009cup@gmail.com.

The 1st BTC Cup was presented by Nike Athletic Club and Dimsum Break.

The 16-Under Champions

University of San Carlos (USC) South 16-under players are given their medals (above) as Champions from Dimsum Break BTC manager Jay Garcia (left), and the BTC Golden Cup for their school from 1st BTC Cup commissioner Cerwin T. Eviota (center), the BTC marketing director.

They are, from left: John Benedict L. Rodrigo, Kerr Neil D. Belocura, Carl Anthony S. Cagigas and Richcres Chigozie C. Nawanaka, with their coach Christophel Abellana, also the Dimsum Break 3-Point Shootout King among the tournament’s coaches.

Defense

In right photo, team captain and All-Star player Belocura intercepts a jumper from Springdale 1 skipper Francis A.J. Gerald Quintos. Defense has been key for the team in earning the Championship.

The 14-Under Champions

University of San Carlos (USC) North 1 14-under players wear their medals (above) as Champions, and receive their BTC Golden Cup for their school from 1st BTC Cup commissioner Cerwin T. Eviota (right) and Dimsum Break manager Jay Garcia (left).

They are, from left: Rey Anthony Arnejo, also the 14-under MVP, Arsenio Uy III, and John Agustin Pajantoy. Not in photo is Tecson Gacrama.

In left photo, Pajantoy drives for a goal against Bosconian defenders.

The 12-Under Champions

THE 12-under players of University of San Carlos (USC) North 1 wear their medals (above) and hold their bonus prizes from Nike Athletic Club as Champions.

They also receive the BTC Golden Cup for their school from 1st BTC Cup commissioner Cerwin T. Eviota (center right; partly hidden) and Dimsum Break manager Jay Garcia (2nd from left).

With their coaches Galimar Largo (left) and Vernini Tangarorang (right), the champion players are, from left: Shann Christopher Tan, also the 12-under MVP, Clint Suelto, Arnie Christian Padilla, and Franz Dominic Bautista.

In photo at right,  Bautista goes for a goal with his signature panzer move that pushes back a defender, as MVP Tan positions for a possible follow-through, a factor that made the team champions.

The 10-Under Champions

PLAYERS of Sacred Heart School – Jesuit (SHS-J) 10-under Team 1 show their medals (in photo above) as Champions, as 1st BTC Cup commissioner Cerwin T. Eviota (center) presents to them the BTC Golden Cup for their school.

With their coaches Jed Cabellon (left), Rabboni Rosito (right), and Jaymar Canoy (not in photo), the young champions are, from left: Gerard Andrew Mendoza, Kyle Joseph Cabarrubias, Anton Niño Araw-Araw, also the 10-under MVP, and Angelo Gabriel Pioquinto.

The boys are shown (in right photo) in their trapping defense, a major factor that made them champions of the 2009 edition of Thirsty Hoop Jams as presented by Dimsum Break and Nile Athletic Club.

1st BTC Cup names MVPs

THE Most Valuable Players of the 1st BTC Cup are, from left: Brian Christopher Mercado of PAREF Springdale 1 at 16-under, Rey Anthony Arnejo of USC North 1 at 14-under, Shann Christopher Tan of USC North 1 at 12-under, and Anton Niño Araw-Araw of Sacred Heart School - Jesuit at 10-under.

CEBU CITY (31 August 2009) – A player each from PAREF Springdale School and Sacred Heart School of the Society of Jesus (SHS-J) and two from University of San Carlos (USC) North were named Most Valuable Players (MVP) as the 1st BTC Cup concluded over the weekend.

They are Brian Christopher Mercado of Springdale 1 at in the 16-under category, Rey Anthony Arnejo of USC North 1 at 14-under, Shann Christopher Tan of USC North 1 at 12-under and Anton Niño Araw-Araw of SHS-J 1 at 10-under.

Springdale 1 wing-man Brian Christopher Mercado drives for a goal against USC South skipper Kerr Neil Belocura in game two of their championship battle.

They were chosen based on their average points per game, the way they played with their respective 3-on-3 squads both in offense and defense, as well as the character they displayed in court during the 2009 edition of Thirsty Hoop Jams at Banilad Town Centre.

Beyond points

Mercado averaged 4.27 points per game during the elimination series and 3.80 overall. He served as a reliable wing-man to Springdale 1′s skipper Francis A.J. Gerald Quintos, a contender for MVP.

Mercado edged his team captain in their average points per game. Quintos had 3.00 during the eliminations and 3.33 during the whole series.

Rey Anthony Arnejo of USC North 1 makes a goal during the playoff against USC North 2.

At 14-under, Arnejo recorded 4.50 points in average per game during the eliminations. He played a key role and generated important points that made USC North 1 survive the playoff and dominate game one in the championship series.

With his teammate and wingman Arsenio Uy III also a contender for MVP as he averaged 5.10 per game, the evaluators gave weight to Arnejo’s role as skipper and orchestrator of the team during the tournament presented by Nike Athletic Club and Dimsum Break.

Shann Christopher Tan of USC North 1 pierces through a defensive wall of USC North 2 as he drives for a goal during game 2 of the championship series.

Consistent

In the 12-under class, Tan averaged 4.55 points per game and was credited for being always consistent in scoring and managing the plays of USC North 1 during the eliminations until game one of the best-of-three championship series.

At 10-under, Araw-Araw averaged 2.33 per game and caught the admiration of the spectators for his classic play, especially during the playoff and championship round.

Two others were close contenders for MVP, SHS-J 1 wingman Gerard Andrew Cabarrubias and Denzel Drazen Sabroso of Southwestern University (SWU) who averaged 3.17 and 7.80 average points per game, respectively.

Anton Niño Araw-Araw of SHS-J 1 lays up for a goal during the All-Star Games last Saturday.

But it was Araw-Araw’s ability to motivate his teammates, orchestrate his pack to subdue their opposing teams and his selfless character in the court that gave Araw-Araw the edge over the two other contenders.

All players chosen for the All Star Games were also contenders for the MVP plum.

“The players chosen as MVP and to be in the All Stars have demonstrated the character of an ideal team player and the spirit of a determined sports person,” remarked the tournament commissioner, Cerwin T. Eviota.

“I’m happy this league has somehow contributed in shaping future MVP and All Star materials through the experiences the boys have had during the series,” added Eviota, also the BTC marketing director.

Sacred Heart rules 10-under, Carolinians dominate the rest

CEBU CITY (30 August 2009, 6PM) — Sacred Heart School of the Society of Jesus (SHS-J) and University of San Carlos emerged champions late Sunday in the 1st BTC Cup, the new major inter-school 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Metro Cebu.

SHS-J 1 ruled at 10-under, USC North 1 at 12-under, USC North 1 at 14-under and USC South at 16-under through a best-of-three championship series the whole day today in this 2009 edition of Thirsty Hoop Jams at Banilad Town Centre.

Anton Niño Araw-Araw and Gerard Andrew Mendoza scored back-to-back producing 5 point each as the young Blue Eagles drowned Southwestern University (SWU), 14-3, at game two, limiting the young Cobras’ main gunner, Denzel Drazen Dabroso.

USC North 1 took game two against USC North 2, 10-8, and forged a do-or-die match in game three in the 12-under card when the former similarly trounced their siblings, 10-7, in this event presented by Dimsum Break and Nike Athletic Club.

Both teams’ big boys dominated the game with Arnie Christian Padilla of the first squad and Anthony Pestaño of the second scoring 10 total points in both games using panzer-like drives from the low post.

But USC North 1′s skipper Shann Christopher Tan redeemed his 1-point production in game one, firing 7 goals in games two and three that kept the game tilted in his team’s favor.

Last second

Game two in the 14-under battle came to be the most exciting, heart-pumping, fast-paced game in the championship series as the winner grabbed victory at the very last second of the game and prevented an overtime.

John Agustin Pajantoy had just released the ball in a jumper when the whistle blew as the time ended, nailing the big win for USC North 1 against Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC), 11-10.

Pajantoy made 5 marks in that game, including the winning shot that spoiled the back-to-back 4-point scoring by Niko Nemeño and Robert Cañada, Jr., who tried to resurrect their team after a game one massacre at 8-0.

In the 16-under finals, USC South has again shown as it had been during the whole tournament that a near even production by players makes a champion team with anyone stepping up in offense if the other is contained by the other team’s defense.

The Southern Warriors overpowered PAREF Springdale 1, 8-6, in the last stretch when they clashed at game two, with skipper Kerr Neil Belocura and Carl Anthony Cagigas scoring 3 each, as reliable wing-man Richcres Chigozie Nwanaka added 2.

Only Francis AJ Gerald Quintos could only convert two shots from beyond the arc as the Carolinians stepped up their defense that made it hard for the Springdale squad to penetrate inside.

Next year

The champions brought home a golden medal each and will report to school today (Tuesday, Sept. 1) handing the golden cup they earned for their school’s honor.

The first runner up also brought their school a smaller cup but still worthy of their pride.

The commissioner closed the tournament with an announcement. “We will be back with a bigger and far better 3-on-3 league in August next year,” declared Cerwin T. Eviota, also marketing director of BTC.

At least 18 school entered the tournament and registered a total of 87 teams playing a total of almost 500 games in the four weekends of August.

Blue Eagles, Warriors take Game 1

SWU skipper Denzel Sabroso drives for the basket against Anton Niño Araw-Araw of SHS-J in Game 1 of their Best-of-3 for the championship. The young Blue Eagles got this game against the young Cobras, 9-4.

CEBU CITY (30 August 2009, 12:00NN) — Sacred Heart School of the Society of Jesus (SHS-J) and University of San Carlos (USC) North and South took the first game in the Best-of-3 Championship series in the 1st BTC Cup this morning.

Southwestern University (SWU), Don Bosco Technology Center and PAREF Springdale will have to grab the second game at 2PM today to even the quest and bring the series to a do-or-die breaker.

Organized by Anton Niño Araw-Araw with Angelo Gabriel Pioquinto producing 4 points, the young Blue Eagles subdued the normally high-scoring SWU 10-under squad, 9-4.

Although Denzel Drazen Sabroso averaged 7.80 points a game during the elimination round, he could only muster 3 points as the Blue Eagles zeroed in their defensive moves on him.

USC North 2's Reuel Ezmael Cimafranca blocks the panzer drive of USC North 1 big man Franz Dominic Bautista. Team 2 edged Team 1, 6-5, in the 1st of their Best-of-3 date in the half court.

12-Under

USC North 1 blemished their immaculate record in the tournament since the eliminations and during the playoff as the team succumbed to the aggressive yet well-coordinated play of sister team USC North 2, 5-6.

Anthony Pestaño fired 4 bombs from the low post, his comfortable zone with the second squad and managed to skirt the defenses of fellow big man Franz Dominic Bautista of the first squad.

14-under

At 14-under, USC North 1  broke the defense and contained the offense of DBTC 4, and drowned the latter, 8-0.

The young Greywolves  got overwhelmed by the strong defense executed by the young northern Warriors led by Rey Anthony Arnejo who fired half of the team’s hits.

DBTC 4 skipper Niko Nemeño and wingman Robert Cañada Jr. had their usual drive but could just not translate it into scores and save their team from shame.

Carolinian John Agustin Pajantoy lays up as Bosconian Simon Xerxes Hugo take a defensive move. USC North 1 defeated DBTC 4, 8-0.

16-under

Meanwhile, in the 16-under card, Spingdale 1 lost momentum in the final minute as USC South edged over them until the last moment in the game, 10-9.

Richcres Chigozie Nwanaka took the leadership for the team as Kerr Neil Belocura was not in his usual self following a hard fall yesterday.

He produced 7 of the team’s score, although he had to be warned for an unsportsmanlike foul on Ian Francis  Holasca, as John Benedict Rodrigo chipped in with 2 points.

Brian Christopher Mercado carried the Springdale squad with 4 marks with valuable help from skipper Francis AJ Gerarld Quintos who had to manage their team’s play.

USC South wing man Richcres Chigozie Nwanaka guns for a goal, as Springdale 1 wing-man tries to make up for a rebound from a missed shot.

3rd Place

In the battle for third place, SHS-2 defeated USC North, 9-7, at 10-under with Jed Cedrick Colonia dumping 5 points for the young Blue Eagles.

USC North 3 also overwhelmed the 12-under Division B top seed USC South 3, 8-3, with Kent John Malazarte producing 4 goals.

At 14-under, USC North 2 earned the win by default as only Lorenzo Carampatana and Patrick Nigel Go reported for the game foir SHS-J 1.

St. Louis School of Mandaue (SLSM) Alpha won over the Delta team, 4-3, in a game that disappointed the spectators as the Cardinals played without any inch of passion for the game.

Unheeded

The game officials prematurely stopped the play noting that the two teams were giving the game a disgrace.

The tournament commissioner concurred when, after he personally asked their common coach to call his players attention, no change was noted in the way the two teams played the game.

The SLSM group felt bad about a referee’s call during the do-or-die game of SLSM Delta with Springdale 1 during the playoff Saturday. They believed it had cost the team fate for the finals.

No protest was raised, however. But an SLSM player challenged the referee who made the call to a fist-fight on the side.

SLSM-Delta won in overtime in the first twice-to-beat series with Springdale 1, 7-6, and bowed to the Division A top seed, 6-9.

Top seeds rule at the playoff

John Agustin Pajantoy of USC North 1 drives for a goal against USC North 2's Mikhail Lorenzo Piad with Michael Lorenzo Balankig closing in for a rebound in their 14-under playoff match.

CEBU CITY (29 August 2009) – The top seeds in the four age categories in the 1st BTC Cup ruled the playoff today and will face off for the best-of-three championship series tomorrow.

PAREF Springdale School and University of San Carlos (USC) South will battle for the BTC Cup in the 16-under category after beating separate teams of St. Louis School of Mandaue (SLSM).

Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) will square off with USC North 1 at 14-under, while USC North’s 12-under 1 will deal with whichever team would have won between USC South 3 and USC North 2.

Sacred Heart School of the Society of Jesus (SHS-J) and Southwestern University (SWU) will test their wits against each other at the 10-under card in this 2009 edition of Thirsty Hoop Jams.

Overtime

Springdale 1 first bowed to SLSM Delta, 6-7, in overtime in their twice to beat 16-under match in the morning but recovered in the deciding game in the afternoon, 9-6.

Francis AJ Gerald Quintos of Springdale 1 drives for a basket against Joel Thomas Villanueva of St. Louis - Delta in their 16-under playoff duel.

Francis Gerald Quintos carried his team with 5 important points in the deciding game after containing the pressure defense of the Delta Cardinals that subdued them in the first game.

Meanwhile, USC South got an initial shock from SLSM Alpha who brought their game to overtime. But Richcres Nwanaka came to lead after skipper Kerr Neil Belocura had a hard fall undergoal.

DBTC 4 frustrated SHS-J 1, 10-8, despite the usual passion the the young Blue Eagles brought in the 14-under playoff game but did not expect the Greywolves’ defense to zero in on Arc Gabrielle Araw-Araw.

Team captain Niko Nemeño bombed 6 marks and controlled the momentum in the Bosconians’ favor despite playing in overtime from the heroics of Patrick Nigel Go who still mustered 4 points.

USC North 1 had to play a deciding game against sister team USC North 2 after losing the first game in overtime, 9-11, when Benedict Aliser became unstoppable with 5 points.

Angelo Gabriel Pioquinto and Anton Niño Araw-Araw of SHS-J 1 watch a brother young Blue Eagle from the other team grab a loose ball.

But skipper Rey Arnejo and wingman Arsenio Uy III rose to the occasion in the deciding game with back-to-back 4 points each to overwhelm their opposing brothers, 9-2.

Championship

At the 12-under card, USC North 1 subdued sister team 3, 10-3, but will await the team to tackle in the championship between sister team USC North 2 and USC South 3 that still played as of press time.

in the 10-under cluster, SHS-J 1 eliminated sister team SHS-J 2, 9-4, as SWU devastated USC North, 10-5.

Games for third place will start at 8:30am today, while the first round in the best-of-3 championship games presented by Dimsum Break and Nike Athletic Club will follow after the 9:30AM mass at the BTC lobby.

League names ‘All Star’ players

CEBU CITY (28 August 2009) – The 1st BTC Cup will parade the tournament’s “All Star Players” during a break in the playoff games at Banilad Town Centre tomorrow.

Organizers picked the players from among those who posted the highest scoring average per game and their actual total scores recorded during elimination games over the past three weekends.

The choices were also limited from among the top four seeded teams in every division at every age category with the chosen players to be playing for their respective division.

The All-Star Players include:

16-Under – Division A: Hordon Herbert Evono of Royal Oaks International School (ROIS), Rommel John Tariman of St. Louis School of Mandaue (SMSM) Alpha, Brian Christoper Mercado of PAREF Springdale A and Kenneth Chan of Philippine Christian Gospel School (PCGS).

16-under Division B: Joachim Giacobbe Go and Jose Aaron Espina of Springdale B, Kevin Cañete of SLSM Echo and Kerr Neil Belocura of University of San Carlos (USC) South.

14-under Division A: Jawein Wisdom Ceniza of ROIS, Arsenio Uy III and Rey Anthony Arnejo of USC North 1 and Ogilvie Lorence dela Fuente of Cebu Cherish School (CCS) 1.

Michael Lorenzo Balankig (left) and Benedict Aliser (right), both of USC North 2, will play in the 1st BTC Cup - All-Star Games for the 14-under Division B group.

14-under Division B: Niko Nemeño of Don Bosco Technology Center (DBTC) 4, Benedict Aliser and Michael Lorenzo Balankig of USC North 2, and Glenn Paul Carbon on DBTC 4.

12-under Division A: Anthony Pestaño of USC North 2, Shann Christopher Tan of USC North 1, Cris Dominic Yap of DBTC 1 and Carlo Caesar Ortega of USC South 1.

12-under Division B: Ken John Malazarte os USC North 3, Jared Lewis Atillo of Sacred Heart School – Jesuits (SHS-J) 2, John Martin Galinato of USC South 3 and Josemaria Rafael Navarro of SHS-J 2.

10-under Dvision A: Gerard Andrew Mendoza of SHS-J 1, Mardy Paul Soco of SLSM, and Anton Niño Araw-Araw and Kyle Jospeh Cabarrubias of SHS-J 1.

10-under Division B: Denzel Drazen Sabroso of Southwestern University (SWU), Lance Lemuel Jumao-as and Joules Lei Elniel Perez of DBTC 2, and Cameron Paul Sansan of SWU.

Meanwhile, league organizers bared that it will be USC North 2 that will challenge USC South 3 in one of the two 12-under crossover playoff games, not USC South 1 as earlier announced.

An error was noted in the daily summary submitted by a table official during the Aug. 22 games where the scores of USC South 1 and USC North 2 were inadvertently inter-changed.

Commissioner Cerwin T. Eviota wrote USC South principal Sr.  Socorro Remedios D. Aunzo, S.Sp.S. and the coaches to advise them of the mistake and to apologize.

“Please extend our apologies to the players concerned and their families and supporters,” noted the letter.