Ravens clawed back in the second half to repel holders Panthers, 45-39, and lift the Jazzville Basketball League- Women’s Division Season 2 Cup at Satwa Park in Dubai.
Final MVP Yska Santiago led Ravens with 16 points, including four triples, while Eli Lizondra and Emm Matreo added 10 and seven points respectively.
Defending champions Panthers started aggressively and posted a five point lead, 16-11, at the end of the first quarter. They continued their fine form in the second period to remain ahead, 22-18, before the half time break.
Ronnagie cuts through the defence.
But Ravens made a strong challenge in the third quarter and Santiago’s back-to-back triples shattered the zone defence imposed by Panthers, whose advantage hang by a thread, 31-30, going into the final period.
Matreo, who was adjudged Season MVP, opened the fourth quarter with a three-point play which gave Ravens the lead for the first time, 33-31.
Ravens never looked back as they turned merciless and imposed a suffocating defence which caused Panthers scoreless in the first five minutes of the payoff period.
Santiago then banked another triple in middle of fourth quarter which gave Ravens a double digit lead, 41-31, as they soared to their seventh straight win since the elimination round.
Ravens coach Bart Sarabia praised her players for clinching the Cup.
“We started slow but we soared and played smarter in the second half by adjusting with our defence and focusing it on the Panthers’ point guard (Lean Mary Ramirez) to break up their game,” Sarabiatold Sport360.
For her part, Panthers coach Ram Robleado said: “We were exhausted in the fourth quarter and our scoring also ran dry. Our zone defence collapsed after Santiago started hitting her triples.”
Meanwhile, Bonitas survived Magic’s fourth quarter surge and escaped with a very tight 49-48 win in overtime to bring home the third place trophy. Mythical 5 member Jaymie Llanes led Bonitas with 11 points.
Individual awards:
Final MVP – Yska Santiago
Season MVP – Emm Matreo
Mythical 5 – Ronnagie Go, Lean Mary Ramirez, Wacky Lucio, Jaymie Llanes, Juvi Banaria
Best coach – Bart Sarabia
Scorers:
Ravens 45 – Yska Santiago 16; Eli Lizondra 10; Emm Matreo 7; Ronnagie Co 6; Lovely Rabena 4; Tin Siapoc 2
Panthers 39 – Lean Mary Ramirez 14; Jaycelle Estrada 10; Wacky Lucio 6; Ram Robleado 4; Gail Fermin 3; Janice Napao 2