CNU MEDELLIN MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM TRIUMPHS OVER CTE

The Normalite Times|DMD

TWIST OR TURN: Will this story end with the same fate or a twist in the end?

The College of Teacher Education hopes to defend the title while CNU Medellin CNU Medellin wishes for a different track.

GAME TIME

The crowd erupted as the men's basketball game took its twist, declaring CNU Medellin as the champion against the College of Teacher Education in a close fight and an overtime game with only a one ball position lead.

With the drums beating and the crowd cheering, CTE opened the first quarter by scoring two points. Medellin, not wanting CTE to lead, tied the quarter at 9 all.

The second quarter was made for CTE, gaining almost three times their first quarter score. Medellin on the other hand, doubled their first quarter points. The halftime ended with a score of 24-18.

It was a crucial third quarter, with the scores so close so tight. The CTE still managed to lead the quarter with a 3-point advantage.

It was until the ourth quarter that the game was at its climax. A buzzer beater, three pointer shot was made by CNU Medellin, tying up the game with 50 all which also resulted to overtime.

Unlike from the previous quarters, the story was reversed during the overtime. CTE was not able to steal the lead against CNU Medellin. Medellin snatched the championship away from CTE with a final score of 62-60.

DIFFICULTIES

The tension was visible between the two teams making it hard for the CNU Medellin to score in the earlier quarters.

The crowd was bigger than they expected. Coach Joebert Samonte said that the players were hesitant at first knowing that the crowd was rooting for CTE. "Actually, para sa akoang mga players, nabag-ohan gyud sila or nakuyawan sila sa crowd aning lugara kay wala baya na didto (Medellin)." (Actually, for my players, they were surprised or shocked with the kind of crowd here because they were not used to it in their province.)

Coach Samonte said that the main key to their success is discipline. "Ang offense wins a game, pero ang defense wins a championship, ug mao na ila gibuhat," he added. (The offense wins a game but the defense wins a championship and that was what they did.)

THE GAME CHANGER

Seconds before the final buzzer rang, the guy in jersey number 9, shot a huge three pointer at a very crucial moment, gaining an extra five minutes for CNU Medellin to snatch the championship away from CTE.

Sergz Pedroza, a first timer in the varsity, was waiting for his turn to enter the game but he ended up changing the whole game.

"Wa mi ga expect, wala mi plano. Ang amo kay pagpaninguha lang gyud," he said. (We did not expect (to win). We don't have a plan. We just did our best.)

After a very successful game, the team went home to rest. "Wala man mi ni ari para party. Among gi ari kay mag work hard para modaog. Mao ra gyud na," Pedroza added. (We did not come here for the party. We came here to work hard to win. That's all.)