Surigao City — For the first time in as many years, and just as he had in virtually every game at the 2010 1st Nitoy Matugas Inter-School Basketball Tournament, Gerald Marquez put the NEMCO on his back offensively and coupled with the team’s devastating defense, the NEMCO stormed to an impressive 81-64 victory over Surigao Education Center to capture the 2010 1st Nitoy Matugas Inter-School Basketball Tournament Championship title.
Marquez 28 points propelled the Warriors to their first Mayor's Championship finish since 2004 as the NEMCO finished a 8-1 in Surigao. With the Collegiate title.
“We didn’t have an identification. They were called the ‘Challenger’. I think that’s over with,” said NEMCO Sports Coordinator Edgar Lisondra. “I think they established who they are. Gerald Marquez, welcome to the Collegiate stage in terms of your ability as a player. That was great for him because he’s such a terrific young man. “So a great job by everyone involved. It’s great for our program. We go from here.”
The NEMCO’s golden effort in addition to Marquez contributions featured for the second consecutive night a double-double from Eutaquio Alaba (San Jose, Dinagat) and from Jobert Lopez (Badas, Placer).
“This is the best. This is the best,” said NEMCO head coach Clint Mondano (Mainit). “With this group, they really have represented our school, NEMCO Basketball so well. Such a young group. They played with enthusiasm. They played great defense throughout.
“Not much was expected. I shouldn’t say that. They’re always expecting a lot. But most people didn’t think we could win. But they kept getting better. … “We had such big bench contributions. I’m just so happy, so fulfilled. This is as good as it gets right now.”
The first half was a tough, physical contest where no points came easy.
Whatever hope SEC had to get back in the game quickly was shot down when Marquez opened the third quarter with a pair of 3-pointers and when Alaba added an offensive put back the Warriors lead was up to 50-32 .
SEC continued to battle with the encouragement of its partisan capacity crowd and heading into the final 10 minutes the game was still in question even though the NEMCO was leading 61-48.
Although badly out-sized by the Tigers, the Warriors work ethic nonetheless helped it to a 42-31 advantage on the glass and to 15 offensive boards.
The 2010 1st Nitoy Matugas Inter-School Basketball Tournament Championship Team assistant coach is Rosbert Gesta (Surigao City)