Team 81 Puts the Hurt On Misbehaving Youth!
By Howie Basilio
ESPN (June 9, 2008)

Manila - Defying time, space, and receding hairlines, Team 81 pulled one rabbit after another out of their supposedly time-torn hats on Saturday, June 7, in so doing making the great Harry Houdini look like a Boyoyong clown in the UPIS Interbatch Basketball Tournament at the Celebrity Sports Plaza.

Tough as nails Adib Tamano, John Imperial, Gigo Alampay, Roy Buensuceso, and Ceasar Callangan conspired to cock the gun, and Ariel Magno pulled the trigger as the 81ers pulled off the unthinkable, rising from the grave to slay the erstwhile unbeaten youngsters of Batch 2000, 61-59, in nerve-frazzling, senses-jangling, poise-wracking, nail-biting, mind-baffling, brain-boggling, cliffhanging, helter-skelter and cardiac fashion.

Down by 11 imposing points going into the final two minutes of the classic confrontasi, the gung-ho 81ers refused to give up the ghost, putting together a magical, never-say-die finishing blast that would leave Team 2000 and their supporters snakebit -- like kids lost in the woods -- after the epic duel.

The indefatigable Tamano got the mesmerizing comeback going, burying a gigantic three-pointer to prune the deficit to 55-59, only a little over a minute left.

Adib's all-game heroics would not end there. A Tamano steal in the ensuing play would lead to a delicious, Bacolod Chicken Inasal-like three-point play by Adib himself that would further reduce the gap to 58-59, only 40 ticks to go.

Then Alampay would literally rise to the occasion, plucking down a monstrous Kevin Garnett-ish offensive board, and deftly finding the open Magno at the left flank, as tension inside the gym hit peak level.

Then the eagle-eyed Ariel, as if showing Sta. Lucia Realty hotshot Paolo Mendoza how it's done, would then prove to be the perfect triggerman, finding nothing but nylon from Trifectaville to make it 61-59 for the 81ers, two seconds to go.

A choking, trapping defense would put the icing on the cake, and bring the brave upstarts down back to earth.

You gotta believe it, Hillary! These 81ers have got more balls than Bill and Barackakakak!

The pulsating triumph pushed the 81ers up to second place with the vanquished 2000ers, both with identical 3-1 won-lost tallies.

On Saturday, June 14, Team 81 tangles with Batch 1995 at 1 p.m. at the same venue, seeking a victory that would further prop up its bid for a maiden Inter-UPIS championship.

Game sidelights...

Joel Paz and Dodo Samson could have provided an extra lift, but they both missed the match – Joel in San Diego, California, and Dodo in Davao.

After the game, this is what Dodo had to say: " I'm so proud of this team. This victory is for the whole batch, Ms. Rina Rosales, and all the girls who used to love me!"

Trash-talk provided some comic relief to the no-nonsense showdown. As the clock started to wind down to 30 seconds, with Batch 2000 holding the ball, Gigo tells 2000ers: "Pressure, pressure!!! Sinong magpapatalo - ikaw ba???" (Must've worked as it was followed by a forced, hurried shot that gave Team 81 the ball back and ultimately led to Ariel's heroic game-deciding three!)

A favourite line by 81ers went : "Sorry, hindi kami nakikipag-usap sa mga nangongopo sa amin! "

Pitch for more batch 81 crowd support next time: " Watch na kayo habang libre pa. May bayad na sa finals!"