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Eagles soar above Warriors, retain title in men’s basketball
By Reina Margaret Gwynette T. Villamor
On March 3, the SBM Eagles secured their third consecutive championship in men’s basketball after defeating the Eng’g Warriors at the XU Gymnasium, 90-80.
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From the very start of the game, the Eagles showed their determination to win as they scored the first shot. They maintained their dominance throughout the first half, leading by five and four points respectively in each quarter.
But by the third quarter, the Warriors refused to let up, ready to defend their tribe. Warriorsteam captain and point guard Mark Piator started the second half with a two-pointer, narrowing the Eagles’ lead, 49-51. Five deadlocks ensued as both teams exchanged baskets. By the end of the quarter, Warrior shooting guard Shawn Pacto drove a layup that would have awarded the quarter to their advantage, but Eagle team captain and small forward Aerich Sajulga secured the
Eagles’ one-point lead after shooting a two, 69-68.
In the final quarter, the Eagles intensified their offense, leaving the Warriors struggling to catch up. With only a minute left on the clock, the Eagles were leading by 11 points. A layup by Sajulga and a free throw by shooting guard Jay Jaojao sealed the victory for the Eagles, giving them a ten-point lead.
With both teams unscathed from their respective brackets, this loss was a blow for the Warriors. “For me, it was a good game all in all. Both teams [sic] back and forth pero I feel disappointed lang sa nanga happen sa mga crucial last minutes sa game. Sunod-sunod amo errors until naka luwag ang SBM sa amo. We tried to do a comeback […] pero time was not on our side anymore.” Piator shared.
Meanwhile, securing their third gold was a surreal experience for the Eagles. But even with two championship titles in their belt, they also faced challenges. Of their 21 players, only five had Intramurals experience. “This gave us the huge responsibility to lead and guide the “rookies” of the team. But we overcame that hurdle with ease as everyone was doing their part and showed enthusiasm and passion for the sport we love,” Sajulga shared.C
