SPCB thwarts ICS in basketball try

by Jon Marco G. Francisco

Sports Writer, The Paulinian Prism 

Loud cheers and shouts of frenzied Seniors boomed as Basketball Prides of St. Paul College of Bocaue blasted their fury and crushed the soaring Immaculate Conception Seminarians, 47-44, in a friendly exhibition match following the vocation talk led by Rev. Fr. Andy Rivera of the Immaculate Conception Seminary on Friday, July 20, 2012.

Marking their first threshold as varsities, SPCB’s ace, Benhurliber Leongson led the scoreboard with 21 points, with an assist of 7, followed by Ramon Dimasupil nailing 14 points, at the Fr. Louis Chauvet Gymnasium.

Clock buzzed after a shot from the outside was missed by ICS halting the possible overtime that turned the game in favor of SPCB. The varsities fiercely faced the rampaging ICS players in the second half, directing more in leech-like defense as the foe fired series of inside shots and a triple three to ease the lead.

“It was a difficult game, we were new to this kind of play, but we pulled through because of teamwork and unity,” Luis Villamar, the captain ball of SPCB team said.

The vertically challenged team prioritized more in clutch plays and exemplified bullet-like speed against the much taller seminarians that took advantage in power plays and rebounds. SPCB dominated the first half, 26-21, with series of turnovers and shots from the two-point range.

Players Edward Santos garnerfing a score of 12 and R. A. Valmadrid with 11 points carried the team’s gameplay especially in the second half.

The friendly game aimed to foster good relationship among the Seminiarians and the Paulinians, as the former promoted to the male seniors a vocation of priesthood and urged them to consider the seminary.

Mr. Ronly Perez, a computer teacher and a former basketball varsity player way back in his high school days in SPCB, served as the referee of the game. Roy Baccay of IV-Fr. Louis Chauvet, served as the commentator.