By ROSE NACALABAN-CABAHUG
Contributor
SPROCKETS95 and Gamba97 shared the spotlight during the Sabado Nights XUHS Alumni Homecoming 2022 last Saturday at Limketkai Atrium, Cagayan de Oro City.
Not only were they given tribute for celebrating their Silver Jubilee, but both teams were also awarded their respective XUHS Alumni Basketball League Season 11’s championship trophies.
MVP Jan Jan Geroy led Sprockets95 to their fifth title in nine ABL final appearances.
Geroy scored 22 points and made two steals, and seven assists in Game 2 to help Sprockets secure the St. Francis Xavier Cup against Xavier United Templars.
Charome Marte and Erwin Raagas took the cudgels in the Templars’ valiant effort but still fell short when Sprockets95 pulled away in 3rd Quarter to end the game at 95-62.
Sprocket95 remained undefeated this season with a formidable line-up that included Paul Moreno, Chippy Yacapin, Fred Dael, Mac Adeva, and Pawaw Cababarros.
Geroy, Moreno, Marte, and Raagas are joined by 1994’s Mark Gary Reyes in the Mythical Five.
Meanwhile, Gamba97 celebrated its back-to-back title in the St. Peter Faber Cup after a 78-66 triumph over Salig2000.
Batch 2000’s game plan was to play full-court press and constant player rotation.
But Gamba97 proved that height is might as they continue to dominate the boards.
Andrew Neri was the best player of the game with 17 points, 15 rebounds, and two assists in his match-up with the hefty Rhoel ‘Butchok’ Biongcog who dropped 25 points.
Gamba97’s defensive crew also limited Diovelyn ‘JR’ Valledor to only eight points who scored 31 points in the first outing.
Neri, Biongcog, and Valledor earned spots at the Mythical Five along with Jun Callelero of the 3rd placer IAM98.
But it was Mr. Consistent, Dexter Latosa who was named MVP.
Gamba97 looks forward to a three-peat as they also co-host the XUHS Alumni Homecoming next year.
