Last Saturday's match, 21 Apr 2007, was a critical game between
CFC Jazz and the Tsing Yi Spurs.
Spurs needed one more win to secure its place to the next level and
already standing at the door step of joining the top three teams (FOM Nets,
Macrotech Kings & TW Wizards) of the league, while CFC Jazz was still praying
the whole game for the miracle to happen -- and it DID !!!
CFC Jazz caught Tsing Yi Spurs by surprise with their balanced attack, solid
defense, sheer determination and prayers, all wrapped into one. Spurs lead all
throughout the game but fell short.
Despite the off-night from sweet shooting Jeff Suaverdez, three other point
guards Rodel Inciong, Joseph de Guzman and Jeffrey de Guzman, stepped up their
game pouring in 36 combined points of the team's 52 total.
The big men, Tony Mangente, William Caluza, Erick Singh, Melvin Suaverdez and
Fernan Diesta formed the human "great wall of china" inside Hong Kong at the
Cheung Fat Sports Centre that kept the Spurs offense most of the time misfiring.
"
They just can't figure out how to break that defense. The centers regularly
changed positions and rotated well that made Spurs' strategy continuously
wondering. They just don't know who will stop them. Turn-over after turn-over
caused them the game. Until they ran out of plays."
- coach Joel Buenafe spoke after the game.
With less than 4 mins. left in the game, Jazz increased it's pressure by sending
Jeffrey de Guzman to hound Spurs' main man, Ramin Sanchez .
And it paid off well as once again, Spurs offense was paralyzed with no one
on their side to penetrate and to distribute the ball.
Team Spurs then still enjoying a slim margin while CFC Jazz bench still crossing
their fingers while their players on the court steadily trims the lead.
Each ball possession makes the place even hotter and the basketball court
eventually turned like a wet market in the Philippines as the chants of "DEFENSE"
was all over the air that even the whistle from the referee could hardly be heard.
Key free thows by Erick Singh, Joseph de Guzman, a perimeter by Jeffrey de Guzman,
and the two penetrations from the game's MVP, Rodel Inciong, sealed the game.
CFC Jazz avenged the loss of it's brother's team, CFC Pistons, last Wednesday,
in the hands of the powerhouse Tsing Yi Spurs.
Should CFC Jazz wins it's last game against CFC Lakers, CFC Jazz will enter the circle
of four to vie for the most coveted trophy.
If there is one thing that Spurs had missed to win the game,
they forgot to dance in rhythm of Jazz.
