Headlined by Kai Sotto and Filipino-American Kihei Clark, Team Cherifer Hustle was able to outlast Team Cherifer Heart, 99-91, at the annual 2018 Exped SM NBTC National Finals All-Star Game held on Friday at the SM Mall of Arena.
Ateneo Blue Eaglet Sotto put up 15 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots while Kihei Clark representing Filam Sports USA, had an all-around game of 13 points, seven boards, six assists, and three steals.
Team Cherifer Hustle was coached by Lyceum Pirates head coach Topex Robinson and was assisted by champion coach Joe Silva of the Blue Eaglets.
“It’s really an honor for me. Just like what I told my players, we always honor the people that open the doors for us,” parted Robinson. “We leave a legacy for the kids that are gonna follow them. It’s exciting to see them and be a part of their careers.”
Team Cherifer Hustle was holding on to a slim 84-80 advantage with four minutes left in the ball game but NU Bullpup Terrence Fortea’s three-pointer sparked a decisive run to close out the contest. Another booming triple by SJ Belangel made it into an 11-point game with a little over two minutes left, ensuring the win for Team Hustle.
Joining Clark and Sotto for Team Cherifer Hustle were SJ Belangel, Terrence Fortea, Will Gozum, Miguel Oczon, RJ Abarrientos, Matthew Daves, Mac Guadana, Rhayyan Amsali, CJ Cansino, Alex Visser, Cooper McLaughlin, Joem Sabandal, and Harvey Pagsanjan.
“Everybody really wanted to contribute, that’s how we honor the game, by giving our best, playing the right way,” added Robinson.
For Team Cherifer Heart, Dave Ildefenso led his team with 15 points and four rebounds. Top US high school prospect Jalen Green wowed the crowd his high-flying dunks and finished with 11 points.
Team Cherifer Heart were composed of Dave Ildefonso, Jalen Green, John Galinato, L-Jay Gonzales, Brandon Wilson, Joel Cagulangan, Warren Bonifacio, Joshua Yerro, Aaron Fermin, Raven Cortez, Maui Cruz, Clint Escamis, Beirn Laurente, Inand Fornillos, and Taine Davis.
“It’s really how NBTC has developed these kids. The vision of NBTC is really grassroots for this level,” Robinson said about the talent level of the young high school stars. “Seeing these kids, the future of Philippine basketball is really something that we will look forward to.”
Meanwhile, Raphael Dimayuga of La Salle-Lipa came up big in the clutch for the Kiefer Ravena-coached Team Cherifer Dedication as it slipped past the Jeron Teng-mentored Team Cherifer Passion, 91-89, in the Division 2 All-Star Game.
Dimayuga drilled the huge triple with 1:21 remaining, before Ryan Cruz of Bacolod Tay Tung High School followed up with the go-ahead bucket to swing the lead in favor of Cherifer Dedication, 90-89, with 29 seconds remaining.
James Barrera could only settle for a split with 1.4 seconds remaining to give his side the two-point lead, keeping the door alive for Cherifer Passion, but Harold Alarcon muffed his potential game-winning triple at the buzzer.
Dimayuga paced Cherifer Dedication with 20 points and three rebounds to be named as the All-Star MVP.
Shawn Algire of St. Benilde International School Calamba poured 14 markers and five boards, Janwell Famaranco of Hercor College of Roxas got 14 points and six rebounds, and Barrera, also of Bacolod Tay Tung, tallied 10 markers and 14 boards in the win.
Marc Angcap of University of Luzon-Dagupan led Cherifer Passion with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Kevin Barranco of St. Robert’s International School Ilo-ilo got 13 markers.
The Scores:
Division 1 All-Star Game:
Hustle 99 — Belangel 16, Sotto 15, Clark 13, Gozum 13, Fortea 10, Oczon 4, Abarrientos 4, Amsali 4, Davis 4, Guadaña 4, Cansino 3, McLaughlin 2, Pagsanjan 2, Sabandal 2, Visser 2.
Heart 91 — Galinato 15, Ildefonso 15, Gonzales 12, Green 11, Wilson 9, Cagulangan 7, Bonifacio 6, Fermin 6, Yerro 6, Cortez 2, Cruz 2, Davis 0, Escamis 0, Fornilos 0, Laurente 0.
Quarterscores: 18-18, 38-40, 67-63, 99-91.
Division 2 All-Star Game:
Dedication 91 — Dimayuga 20, Algire 14, Famaranco 14, Barrera 10, Del Rosario 7, Cruz 6, Gomez 6, Untalan 5, Tolentino 4, Ong 2, Pagcu 2, Lazarte 1, Garcia 0, Javier 0, Liu 0.
Passion 89 — Angcap 16, Barranco 13, Alarcon 8, Doromal 8, Janao 8, Abila 6, Pinero 6, Platon 6, Castisimo 4, Ocancas 4, Santos 4, Pepito 3, Sablaon 3, Halasan 0, Itao 0.
Quarterscores: 18-20, 34-40, 63-68, 91-89.
