row 2: Wayden James, Rivera, Jariel Esteban Centeno, Pedro Manolo Montes, Jaden Anthony Lee, Liam Isaac Villarruz
Coaches: Noel Engracia, Jhon Cabulong
Congratulations once again to the De La Salle Santiago Zobel (DLSZ) 10U Basketball Team for winning their 2nd straight championship having just won the Metro Manila Basketball Championship held at Xavier School in San Juan last February 18, 2025. The team beat the home team, Xavier School enroute to topping the tournament.
DLSZ started off strong building a ten (10) point lead at the end of the first quarter driven by their excellent passing and aggressive drives to the hoop. Xavier fought back hard in the second quarter, tying the game at one point. DLSZ eventually settled down and staved off the rally of the opposing team who trimmed down the lead to just six (6) at the end of the first twenty minutes of play. Xavier School came out aggressive to start the third quarter, slowly eating up into the lead of the Baby Archers who found themselves just ahead by three points with just one quarter left in the hotly contested game. With momentum on their side, the opposing team took a one-point lead with about six minutes left in the last quarter. Championship experience and poise proved vital as DLSZ kept their composure and never panicked. Putting their acts together, they displayed their trademark suffocating defense coupled with timely outside shooting, the Baby Archers pulled away to eventually seal the win and the championship.
It was a total team effort as each member of the team played their respective roles to the hilt. Coach Jhon Cabulong once again did a phenomenal job in leading the team. Similar to how the team won the PAYA championship last January 26, Coach Jhon prepared the team well and crafted a game plan which the kids were able to execute properly. Coach Noel Engracia once again supported Coach Jhon in leading the team to the championship.
Congratulations as well to the following members of the team who received individual awards:
From left to right:
- Pedro Manolo Montes – – Mythical 5, Season MVP, Finals MVP
- Jaden Anthony Lee – Mythical 5
- Liam Isaac Villarruz – Mythical 5, Defensive Player of the Year
Members of the team are as follows:
- BRANDON ALEXANDER ALCONABA (DLSZ 2032)
- JOAKIM PHILIPPE CASTRO ( DLSZ 2033)
- JARIEL ESTEBAN CENTENO (DLSZ 2032)
- ED GABRIEL ILANO (DLSZ 2032)
- JADEN ANTHONY LEE (DLSZ 2032)
- RICHARD ANDRE MELENCIO (DLSZ 2032)
- PEDRO MANOLO MONTES (DLSZ 2032)
- BRENT BENJAMIN ONGKINGCO (DLSZ 2032)
- CARLOS PANALIGAN (DLSZ 2033)
- WAYDEN JAMES RIVERA (DLSZ 2033)
- ISAAC GABRIEL TABU (DLSZ 2033)
- LIAM ISAAC VILLARRUZ (DLSZ 2033)
- HAJUN YOON (DLSZ 2032)
Animo La Salle!
Photo Credit: Metro Manila Basketball Championship Facebook Page