Gutsy Stallions repulse tough Calamba City squad

gain semis berth in Secondary Basketball

STA. CRUZ, Laguna - Lipa City Stallions almost squandered its 18-point halftime lead but
stayed composed in the dying seconds of the game to eliminate the resilient Calamba City,
69-66 and secure a semis slot after winning four games in a row at Laguna Sports Complex,
February 16.
Down by 18 points, 42-24 by halftime, the Calambeńos staged a huge fourth quarter
comeback and tied the game at 66 apiece with over a minute to go in regulation via back-to-
back triple by its ace point guard, Limwel Calibo and two short jumpers by Kim Natanauan.
However, Stallions quarter finals hero, Ian Abila responded with a dagger 18-footer
jumper from the left wing which silence the Calambeńos uproar.
Calibo, an all-around guard from Lyceum of the Philippines University-Laguna tried to tie
the game with 21 seconds in regulation with yet another triple, however, his shot went of
and Abila soared high to secure the rebound and passed it to Aeron Lupac who was then
fouled by Calibo.
Lupac split his free throw and Calamba City called for a time out to map out their final
play hoping to send the game to overtime.
Natanauan took a triple after being set on screen by Calibo but the ball rattled out and
Abila secured the ball as the time expired.
“We’re very lucky today, despite some lapses in the latter part of the game, still they
were able to close it out”, coach Arnel Manalo said in an interview after the game.
The Stallions were led by Abila who dropped a double double performance of 23 points
and 11 rebounds. Raphael Dimayuga added 17 points and 8 assists while Stephen Rieley
Javier chipped in 14 points and 4 steals to help Stallions registered 4 games in a row.
Meanwhile, Calibo led his team with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Natanauan from
the College of St. Benilde Calamba has 12 points and 11 rebounds in their loosing efort.
“Sayang yung trapping defense namin, hindi namin na-sustain, magaling din talaga ang
Lipa kasi kung sa ibang team yun baka tuluyan nang nawalan ng momentum, kaso matigas
din talaga”, said Calibo in an interview with the Stallion Express.
“Our defense was really great, I told my boys to trap as early as the first quarter, but
napaka-slow ng start namin. Ito yung character ng team na to, kahit na matambakan ng
malaki, lalaban at lalaban pa rin kami hanggang sa huli, we we’re playing with only 11 men in
my team, ang Lipa kumpleto, so dun pa lang dehado na kami. Masaya pa rin ako kasi muntik
na eh, kinapos lang sa dulo”, added Calamba City coach James Garcia in a separate interview.
With the victory, Lipa City formalized its entrance in the semifinals where it is set to lock
horns with the tough Dasmarińas City Monarch later in the day.

ARIEL L. ABEL
BOLBOK NHS