Desiderio sinks 6 3s to help Titay secure 3rd place in cash-rich Gov. Hofer hoops

GOVERNOR Ann K. Hofer (center) presented the third-place trophy to team Titay CKB and was received by co-captains Paul Desiderio and Eloy Poligrates after scoring an overwhelming 86-74 win over BRT Basilan in the 22nd Araw ng Zamboanga Sibugay – 1st Gov. Ann K. Hofer Open Invitational Basketball Tournament in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. (Photo by Rommel C. Manlosa)

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – Team Titay CKB reasserted its dominance over the BRT Basilan following an emphatic 86-74 win for the third-place finish in the 22^nd Araw ng Zamboanga Sibugay – 1^st Gov. Ann K. Hofer Open Invitational Basketball tournament at the Capitol Hills Civic and Sports Center.

Meanwhile, Alicia KSB Glass eked out a thrilling 86-84 win over Zamboanga City Family Sardines in the championship game in the night cap.

Reed Juntilla was named the tournament MVP for his consistent performance all tournament long.

Team Titay again rode on the huge games of Paul Desiderio who drilled six triples that totally took the lights out from Basilan who were relying mostly on the explosive games of Cameroonian import Mike Harry Nzeuszeu.

Desiderio was cold in the opening quarter missing three attempts from the three-point land before sinking his first at the 6:53 mark of the second period, which was timely for Titay as Basilan took control of the match.

Joshua Dela Cerna also played a huge part in dousing cold water on Basilan as the former Cebu Institute of Technology-University Wildcats forward complemented Desiderio’s long shots with perimeter baskets that turned a 26-30 deficit to a 46-36 lead at the halftime break.

PAUL Desiderio delivered what was expected of him by coach Michael Cenabre as he sank six triples of his game high 24 points in an 86-74 domination over the BRT Basilan in the third place game of the 22nd Araw ng Zamboanga Sibugay – 1st Gov. Ann K. Hofer Open Invitational Basketball Tournament. (Photo by Rommel C. Manlosa)

After Eluid Poligrates opened the third quarter with a triple for Titay CKB, Desiderio sank three more triples and Aldrin Ligon added two of his own, to increase the lead to 19, 70-51 with 2:07 left in the third period.

Desiderio scored 11 points in the third period while Ligon made eight of Titay’s telling 17-0 run that broke a close 53-51 game to a 70-51 Coach K Basketball Skills Camp squad.

SOMMY Managor (no.20 white jersey) scored a basket despite the tough defense of Mike Harry Nzeuszeu and Wowee Escocio. Aside from scoring Managor’s presence in the paint was more than enough to force the offense change their shot most of the time. (Photo by Rommel C. Manlosa)

Nigerian Sommy Managor then joined in preserving the lead as Titay barely put pressure on defense to keep the double-digit advantage floating.

Titay CKB played without its starting power forward CJ Catapusan who decided to leave for Manila for prior commitments.

Desiderio scored 24 points, Managor added 15, Dela Cerna had 13 and Ligon contributed 11 for Titay CKB while Nzeuszue top scored Basilan with 21 points and Cantimbuhan finished with 12 points.

Titay CKB pocketed P200,000 for winning the third-place match while Basilan went home with P100,000 prize. RCM

Box scores:

TITAY CKB (86) – Desiderio 24, Managor 15, Dela Cerna 13, Ligon 11, Macion 8, Poligrates 5, Olayon 5, Macaraig 3, Galvez 2.

BRT BASILAN (76) – Nzeuszeu 21, Cantimbuhan 12, Diwa 8, Lucero 8, Sumalacay 6, Bulac 6, Luciano 5, Escocio 2, Puerto 2, Acain 2, Julkipli 2.

QUARTERSCORES: 19-15; 46-36; 72-55; 86-74.