ROCKETS snatched the Under-10s basketball crown from defending champion Wolves with a scintillating win, 21-14, at the Rebound Miller Centre, Liverpool NSW recently.
By RAY POLICARPIO
The Rockets’ Miguel Randall top-scored with 14 points, followed by teammates Luis Ladera with 4, Jaeryn Agustin with 2, and Brandon O’Malley with 1 point and put a stop to the blue-shirted Wolves’ reign.
The Wolves’ CJ Bayatao and Jaylen Beltran led the scoring with 8 points.
Randall was voted Most Valuable Player.
In the Under-14s, the Blazers derailed the Vipers, 57-45
The Vipers’ sentinels were led by the sweet-shooting Joshua Guatato on 20 points, Miguel on 13, and Koe Evangelista on 12. They knew that they would have to muster enough strength and talent to overwhelm their opponents as they continuously punctured the hoops with long toms and lay-ups.
But the Blazers countered through the court generalship of Latrell “Jordan” Cruz with 11 points. Cruz orchestrated transition plays that created scoring opportunities for the wily JC Caratang on 19 points, bulky center Earvin Dizon on 14, power-forward Gershon Gabriel on 8, Jaymarc Agustin on 3, and Xavier Cerrado on 2.
The Blazers’ running game perpetuated by Cruz, Caratang, Dizon and Gabriel, coupled with their defensive rotation was just too much for the Vipers’ quintet who could only answer with token jumpers and treys.
The last few minutes of the game saw JC Caratang powering his way with timely baskets to lead his Blazers team to victory.
The Most Valuable Player was JC Caratang for his all-around performance for the game.
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PICTURES:
All the action at the Under-10s and Under-14s championships at the Rebound Miller Centre, Liverpool.
