By Neil Bravo
I can make a lord, but only God can make a champion. Take that as a slight twist of a famous dictum by King James I.
For the Kings of Jose Maria College of Davao, this will be forever etched as their guiding light and no less than team owner Pastor Apollo Quiboloy will remind them that.
From virtual pretenders to the throne, the unheralded Kings have ascended to assume the royalty of the country’s college hoop kingdom—at least for the National Students Basketball Championship (NSBC).
The underdog Kings reigned over the hardcourt against the toughest warriors from the country’s hoop-crazy campuses, their last conquest was close to being biblical–against the Generals—surviving a late rally and staving off their rivals in overtime. Their 80-78 win against Emilio Aguinaldo College in the finals gave them their first taste of a national title.
The Kings thus joined the newly-crowned juniors champions Assumption College of Davao to elevate Davao City to the top of student caging in the country in both collegiate and high school categories—a record of sorts for Davao caging. Earlier, ACD beat Malay National High School of Boracay 69-55 to win the juniors crown.
The Kings, who were awarded the championship trophy donated by BAP President Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, earned the right to represent the country in the 9th Asian University Basketball Championship (AUBC) in July in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Kings were led by eventual MVP and tournament star Joshua Adalid who had 19 in the championship, John Philip Refuerzo, Reynaldo Casanillo and Bob Ombecan. Completing the cast were Dexter Caminse, Angelo Morilla, Jumabon Bulac, Marios Martinez, Aldwin Cole, Royce Olanolan, Kenny Guibay, Francis Cutin, Jay-ar de Guzman and Julius Escobido.
Drawing the plays for the Kings were a troika of veterans in head coach Dodong Cagampang and his able assistants Dindo Pastor and Nick Serafica. Sports Director Mark Alemania joined the team as school representative.
The Generals were steered by coach Gerald Esplana and assistant Andy de Guzman—themselves retired PBA stars. They were just four points behind three-fourths of the way before taking the driver’s seat, 64-59, on a baseline jumper by Ralph Sanchez.
The Kings quickly regained composure and dropped a 8-0 bomb of their own to regain upperhand, a67-64.
After eventual MVP Joshua Adalid, who had 16 in the game, put JMC on top 69-66, Jan Jamon hit five straight points topped by an and-one play to shove the Generals ahead, 71-69, with 16 ticks remaining.
A stinging defeat staring them in the eye, Francis Cutin drew a huge foul in the Kings final play. He calmly sank both free throws to end regulation time at 71-all and JMC’s fortunes were saved by a prayer.
With the championship on the line in the extra period, Adalid rose to the occasion as great players are made of. A tip by Jamon for a 75-74 EAC lead proved to be the last cry of the Generals as Adalid struck for a big triple and JMC strung up six in one final blow for a 80-75 cushion and only 10 ticks on the clock.
Jamon’s desperation trey in the final seconds made it look close in the end as the Kings celebrated the sweet taste of a national title.
The balanced Kings offensive had three other Kings knocking in double digits – John Philip Refuerzo with 13, Reynaldo Casanillo 12 and Bob Ombecan 10.
Jamon led the Generals with 19, Sanchez had 15, and Sout African center Noube Happi had 12.
