Stallion

by Redmond Yu (H3G)
Stallion Sports Writer

It’s usually the fourth and last quarter that determines the outcome of a basketball match, but this game was totally different as the Xaverians eked out a mind-blowing 104-point win over their opponents by the final buzzer in last Saturday morning’s PAYA (Philippine Athletic Youth Association) Juniors’ Basketball game at the Xavier High School gym, whopping Benedictine International School 112-8.

From tip-off, the boys from Xavier already showed the grit that has always been associated with their school’s athletic endeavors, making a 17-3 run through pushing the tempo and destroying the opponent’s offensive flow with a stifling full court press that rarely allowed the ball to cross half court. Shot attempts were even more scarce, putting the Stallions ahead by 14 at the end of the first quarter with only one field goal attempt, a three-pointer, made by the Benedictines, paling in comparison to the Stallions’ eight.

Photo Taken by Alfonso Ancheta (H4E)

In the second quarter, the Xaverians effectively put an end to even the remotest chance for the Benedictine International School’s junior varsity team to stage a comeback by blowing the game wide open with a 33 point charge headed by the team’s reserves. Back-up center Francis Yao, who scored 8 of his 12 points in this pivotal period, masterfully spun around two defenders in one sequence for an excellent lay-up deep inside. Their defensive intensity continued to hold down the boys from Quezon City, who only managed two points. To make matters worse for the visiting team, senior Caesar Wongchuking managed to put in a lay-up just before the buzzer signaling the end of the second period.

Down 50-5, many of those in attendance would have thought that the home team was done with their onslaught. Nevertheless, the points continued to rain in for the Stallions. Things were going so well that sophomore Kyles Lao was able to score on a seemingly impossible putback attempt late in the third quarter. This third quarter, perhaps one of the best ever for this team, certainly was the best for the Xaverians last Saturday as they held the guest team scoreless while chipping in 32 points, ending the third chapter of the ball game 82-5.

Trailing by 77 points, the next ten minutes was practically garbage time. However, instead of slowing down the pace, they went on scoring another 31 points while only allowing the Benedictines a single three-point shot, which proved to be their last ‘hurrah’ as the Xaverians continued on until they held a three-digit lead over their opponents in the dying seconds of the ball game.

Jonathan Reyes, coach and mentor of the Xavier Juniors Team pointed out his team’s undying effort and hustle even when the game was a lop-sided affair saying, “We won because of our tough defense.”

Asked whether he thinks they can sustain the same effort in their future games, coach Jonathan replied, “That’s what we’re trying to do. Even if fought against a not-so-strong opponent, we’re trying to instill on the boys na [that] we should play hard. They should not look at the score and [instead] keep on doing the things that we taught them to do, which is going hard on defense, and at the same time on offense. They have to keep attacking the basket.”

The quote wasn’t lying: “Good offense starts from great defense.”