Miguel, Solomon clash in LAKAS 2023 Basketball Finals

Franchesca De Guzman

House of Br. Miguel’s boys basketball team won 56-50 in the LAKAS 2023 finals against House of Br. Solomon while House of Br. Mutien-Marie won 29-26 against House of Br. Miguel in the basketball girls championship on Jan. 27 at DLSU-D Ugnayang La Salle (ULS).

House of Br. Solomon Basketball

Boys Coach Bench Yap said that they could have won the championship had their team maintained their composure throughout the game.

“[K]aya sana nila mag-champion kung hindi lang sila na-rattle,” he stated.

Regardless of the difficulties faced by the House of Br. Miguel, Yap was still proud of his players and the efforts they put into the game.

“[P]ero ang masasabi ko sa…players ko…[ay] talagang…competitive (silang) mag-laro and masipag din silang mag-training kaya sila nakarating sa point na ‘yun (in the finals),” he added.

On the other hand, House of Br. Miguel Basketball Boys Coach Kirby Fabros complemented House of Br. Solomon for their teamwork which their team lacked.

“[M]agaling ‘yung Solomon. Saludo…sa kanila kasi may teamwork sila, ‘yun ‘yung wala sa’min; ang nangyari kasi sa’min parang lahat marunong mag-score…(pero) parang nag-aagawan (na) sa bola,” he stated. Nonetheless, Fabros was grateful for the team’s victory as they trained hard for what they had earned.

“[S]yempre…masaya po…unanguna (we thanked The) Lord para sa panalo…[s]yempre hindi rin madali ‘yung training na ginawa (ng) team kahit na gan’un ‘yung napagdaanan,” he said.

While on another basketball court, House of Br. Miguel Basketball

Coach Alliyah Nadres of Miguel says that they can join the basketball girls varsity team with the performance they showed in the game.

“[T]hey’re very passionate with… playing basketball and sobrang determined nila maglaro…[W]e just want them to enjoy the game,” they said. “[K]ung kukunin namin sila sa basketball…varsity… pwedeng-pwede namin sila isali,” she added.

Nadres also complimented House of Br. Mutien-Marie’s basketball girls, saying that their players had commendable stamina for playing both in the volleyball and basketball championships.

“[M]agaling (ang) [Mutien-Marie basketball girls]…knowing na naglalaro sila sa championship ng volleyball and…basketball, grabe ‘yung stamina nila,” she commented.

House of Br. Mutien-Marie Basketball Girls Coach Pia Romagos said that the championship game between House of Br. Miguel and House of Br. Mutien-Marie put them on edge as both teams were on fire with passion throughout the game.

“[M]asasabi ko sa Miguel (na) they really (put up a)…great fight with us kasi…watching them…Parang mararamdaman mo sa sigaw ng mga audience din ‘yung frustration (and suspense)” she said.

As the games concluded, DLSU-D SHS Sports Coordinator Donnie Roble said that there was no declared Most Valuable Player (MVP) as everyone performed well.

“Wala naman in particular na notable player kasi everybody performed and did their best so all players naman (did a satisfactory performance), especially those who joined the games…(they) showed remarkable…(character) in terms of sportsmanship, initiative… and…hard work,” he said.

QAS spoils Patriots’ comeback match in SLCUAA Season 23

Lilah Mikaela Paredes

The DLSU-D Patriots fell at the hands of Queen Anne School (QAS) Sentries in the opening match of the Southern Luzon Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SLCUAA) on Dec. 10 at QAS in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

The game opened strong with the Patriots being up by three in the last three minutes of the first quarter. However, QAS rebutted with an 11-2 run to close the first quarter with:

QAS 20, DLSU-D 13.

In the second quarter, DLSU-D managed to cut the lead into three, courtesy of Christopher Allan Santiago and Ricardo Cesar Rallos. Yet, the game headed towards a different direction after the Patriots only scored 9 points against QAS’ 23 points in the remaining minutes of the second quarter, ending the first half with a score of: QAS 49, DLSU-D 30.

In the last half of the game, the Sentries continued their dominance over the Patriots, and gave them a tough time in the third quarter: QAS 28, DLSU-D 6.

DLSU-D tried to close the gap in the fourth quarter and tallied: QAS 21, DLSU-D 19, thanks to Paul Rafaelo Buan and Rallos’ efforts. The game closed at: QAS 96, DLSU-D 57 in favor of QAS.

As per DLSU-D Patriots Head Coach Tito Reyes, time constricted practices and preparations were among the things accountable for their loss, following their defeat to QAS.

“[A]ng training kasi namin twice a week lang… Hindi pa ‘yon [regular]. Minsan may event kaya [we are lacking in training],” Reyes remarked.

The prolonged period of no tournaments and new set of players also added to the factors of his team’s loss, as said by Reyes. “[S]yempre first game, ‘yung mga bata kumbaga…