One Family/Office System team receives the championship crown from PIBAQ officials and sponsors of Power Horse Cup 2013. The champions regain the crown after several seasons.

By Chris Panganiban

Pictures by: Ronnie Castro

 

DOHA: Sajid Padilla’s never-say-die  jumper from the rainbow territory with six seconds left made a comeback championship crown victory for One Family/ Office System , 80-78, over fighting Batang Sanna in the best-of-three championship series of Power Horse Energy Drink Cup of Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ) at Al Gharafa Training gym over the weekend. Presented by McDonald's Qatar and powered by Travelex Worldwide Money and Co-Sponsored by Vistaland International Marketing and the Boracay Filipino Restaurant.

Padilla, the Finals Most Valuable Player, bravely took the miracle last shot as if there’s no more tomorrow as the capacity crowd lay motionless when he unleashed the ball towards the basket that sank in making the fans and supporters going wild in loud cheers.

Batang Sanna’s Christian Candido tried to beat the buzzer with his own version of rainbow shot but tough luck for him as the ball missed the basket until the bell rang.

The game was very tight especially in the last three minutes of play as both teams traded baskets as if it was really nobody’s ball game in the lead changes.

Batang Sanna showed more intensity in the game since they were hungrier to even the series at 1-1 but the momentum to recapture the crown was reality closer to One Family who haven’t been in the finals over the last several seasons.

Oliver Roxas spelled the last difference for Batang Sanna when he converted a bonus free throw from his basket with a foul from Hussien Gandarosa giving the team a one point edge 78-77 with 19 seconds left.

One Family was comfortable leading by six points with 2:50 left , 75-69,after Richard Raagas converted a three-pointer but Batang Sanna continued to inch closer and closer with their own barrage of baskets to keep them alive and stay in contention in the series.

The champions displayed its deadly form early in the first half with a five-point edge in the first quarter, 18-13, and even widened the gap with a 10-point advantage , 41-31, in the second quarter. Batang Sanna however bounced back and took a one-point lead in the third quarter,57-56.

The mythical five team were named including: Guard Position, Ronnie Cajayon (TCC Stars-Botak team) and Michael Olino (One Family team), while in Forward Position, Kemuel Proceso (TCC Stars-Botak team) and Raphael Vallado (Batang Sanna team) and for Center Position, Mark Anthony Isip (One Family team)

The Most Valuable Player for the season was Michael Olino and Coach Noli Raagas from One Family team for the Best Coach of the season.

The awarding ceremony followed after the game which were presented by Mr. Ghassan Al Raahi, the Manager of Power Horse Energy Drink (Arizona Trading W.L.L.) and Mr. Willy Vitingco, Marketing Officer. Mr. Exequiel Tunay, Manager of the Vistaland Marketing International, Mr. Ronald Arugay, Assistant Marketing Manager of the McDonald's Qatar and Mr Wilson of Boracay Filipino Restaurant.

ONE FAMILY/Office System scores: Richard Raagas-27, Sajid Padilla-13, Michael Olino-12, Danilo Cruz-11, Anthony Isip-8, Hussein Gandarosa-5, Virgillio Bolo-2, and Mark Dumpit-2

BATANG SANNA scores: Oliver Roxas-15, Bogs Laher-13, Roel Odal-13, Christian Candido-12, Jerson Sales-9, Jason Macatuggal-9, Raphael Vallado-7, Mark Pagula-0,