At last, the Centro Uno Tapas claimed the elusive U-22 throne.
After a back-to-back demise in their second-straight finals trip, Centro Uno Tapas won't be denied for the third time around as they finally took home their first Interbarangay U-22 championship against Nabannagan West, 43-37, in their thrilling encounter at the Natalged A Lasam Arena, April 13.
This will be Centro Uno's first championship tilt after losing to the Sicalao Panthers in the first and second seasons of the tournament.
Both squads were locked up on the defensive side resulting in a low-scoring game but Tapas once again picked up the pace in the fourth to eventually escape the Nabannagan cagers.
Nabannagan held a 20-12 advantage going into the second half led by their forward Sandrex Antonio as he dominated the paint.
However, the momentum quickly changed in the third when West's center Dhan Chester Carse suffered a back-breaking knee injury that completely depleted the interior defense of Nabannagan.
From then, all-star guard Michael Bisquera capitalized with his fastbreak layups followed by an and-one finish by Jerson Atienza to trim down the lead to one, 32-31.
Tapas then stole the lead in the fourth in the last two minutes as Atienza knocked down a big jumpshot, 37-34, as West was desperate to retaliate.
With their back against the wall, Antonio was there to rescue as he countered with a crucial offensive putback and-one to tie all things around at 37-37 apiece.
But the hungriness of Tapas to end the series took over as Atienza converted a swift lefty layup, 39-37, followed by a dagger three by their court general Walther Visquera, 43-37 in the last 1:00 mark of the penultimate quarter.
Visquera's three in the fourth came up clutch came in the right place at the right time as this was his only successful attempt from the rainbow country. But this cemented Tapas lead to finally capture their first U-22 trophy in the last three seasons.
Jerson Atienza was hailed as the Most Valuable Player of the Finals while his teammate Michael Bisquera was part of the Mythical Five.
Meanwhile, the Local Government Unit-Lasam won over PNP-Tagapagtangol in the Dandex InterAgency Cup Finals in their best-of-three series.
Mayor Dante Dexter A. Agatep, Jr., with the rest of the DanDex Cup Commissioners, were in attendance to award the cash prizes and trophies to the winning teams.
The officials of both tournaments were from the LBRA-BAP Lasam headed by President Jerome Domingo who is also looking forward to officiate the first U-30 Congw. Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso Congressional District 2 Intertown Basketball Tournament, to be held on May 18, 2024.
The DanDex Interbarangay Open-Age Tournament is also about to start.#
— Norielle D. Pastor
📸Jeffrey C. Agoot, Rudy T. Urian, Jr.