By: Mr. Thomas Vincent Martinez, DLSZ Parent
The DLSZ U14 Midgets Girls Basketball Team wins the 2022-2023 Inter-Scholastic Sports Association (ISSA) U14 Midgets Girls Basketball Champions and reclaimed the top spot last won by DLSZ in 2017!
After the final buzzer sounded, DLSZ won by three (3) points with a final score of 35-32 against the host school, International School Manila (ISM).
Led by Team Captain Sofia Martinez (DLSZ 2028) along with Coach Maan Moreno, the team showed grit for their 5-1-win loss card up to the Finals. The team started their very first ISSA game on November 12, 2022, with a heartbreaking loss to British School Manila (BSM). DLSZ Midgets Girls Basketball Team lost by eight (8) points to BSM on opening day. After that, the team trained hard three times a week and won four (4) consecutive games all the way to the Semi-Finals which booked them a Championship ticket against ISM.
The one-game Championship of the ISSA U14 Division was like a chess match between DLSZ Coach Maan Moreno and ISM Coach Julie Amos. Both coaches used all available players during the game, with a few players on both teams fouling out after consuming their five (5) fouls. Adding challenge and spice to the game was the game plan of ISM to double team and check Team Captain Sofia Martinez all throughout the game, the minor injury to Tiffany Reyes during the 4th quarter, and the full-court pressure applied by their opponents.
The U14 Midgets Team is composed of Alessandra Simone Mesina (DLSZ 2028), Sofia Martinez (DLSZ 2028), Tiffany Anne Reyes (DLSZ 2028), Jooa Lee (DLSZ 2028), Sophia Adrienne Sanares (DLSZ 2028), Angelic Cean Villanueva (DLSZ 2029), Noelle Cassandra Esteban (DLSZ 2029), Ariza Bautista (DLSZ 2028), Frances Flora Sarmiento (DLSZ 2028), Coach Maan Moreno, Frea Enya Quintana (DLSZ 2028), Kayla David (DLSZ 2028), Charyna Joy Luz Roque (DLSZ 2028), Anastasha Clarke Pagulayan (DLSZ 2031), Emmanuelle Louise Lozano (DLSZ 2028), Kristelle Marie Mataga (DLSZ 2032).
Congratulations to all the players, Coach Maan Moreno, SDO Head, Mr. Santi Edralin, PT Cha Balquin, and PT Francis Saur!
Animo La Salle!
From left, 1st row (sitting): Sophia Adrienne Sanares (DLSZ 2028), Noelle Cassandra Esteban (DLSZ 2029), Anastasha Clarke Pagulayan (DLSZ 2031)
2nd row (standing): Angelic Cean Villanueva (DLSZ 2029), Jooa Lee (DLSZ 2028), Tiffany Anne Reyes (DLSZ 2028), Sofia Alessandra Martinez (DLSZ 2028), Kayla David (DLSZ 2028), Frea Enya Quintana (DLSZ 2028), Coach Maan Moreno, Charyna Joy Luz Roque (DLSZ 2028), Ariza Bautista (DLSZ 2028), Alessandra Simone Mesina (DLSZ 2028), Emmanuelle Louise Lozano (DLSZ 2028), Frances Flora Sarmiento (DLSZ 2028)
From left: Alessandra Simone Mesina (DLSZ 2028), Sofia Martinez (DLSZ 2028), Tiffany Anne Reyes (DLSZ 2028), Jooa Lee (DLSZ 2028), Sophia Adrienne Sanares (DLSZ 2028), Angelic Cean Villanueva (DLSZ 2029), Noelle Cassandra Esteban (DLSZ 2029), Ariza Bautista (DLSZ 2028), Frances Flora Sarmiento (DLSZ 2028), Coach Maan Moreno, Frea Enya Quintana (DLSZ 2028), Kayla David (DLSZ 2028), Charyna Joy Luz Roque (DLSZ 2028), Anastasha Clarke Pagulayan (DLSZ 2031), Emmanuelle Louise Lozano (DLSZ 2028), Mr. Thomas Vincent Martinez
Photo Credit: Mr. Thomas Vincent Martinez, DLSZ Parent