The District Warriors of Quezon City’s first district made the country proud by outlasting the ACBA Tigers Sydney, 75-71, to rule the Mutant 2024 Cahaya Lestari Surabaya (CLS) Cup International Invitational League Under-23 Senior Basketball Boys Division crown held recently in Indonesia.
Backed by Quezon City first district Representative Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde, the District Warriors showed steely resolve in the face of ATS’s furious comeback to prevail.
In a show of force, five players QC District 1 scored in double figures – performances earning raves from Atayde.
“I salute this team for showing the world how Filipinos respond to pressure and adversity,” said Atayde. “Hindi sila bumigay, hindi sila bumitaw––yan ang pusong Pinoy.”
The District Warriors, coached by Dale Lacorte and Vis Valencia, raced to a 74-65 lead with two minutes left in the fourth quarter, but the Tigers countered with a huge run to cut the deficit to 74-71.
But it proved to be their last hurrah as the District Warriors held their ground to keep the Aussies at the bay.
Custodio Lastra Jr. led the team with 13 points followed by Christopher Ang (11), Christian Jake Agoncillo (10), Warren Calara (10) and Jermiah Guzman (10).
The other members of the team are Ryan Arceo, Danren Nepomuceno, Joeben Loria, Patrick Buena, and Andrei Diaz, along with team coordinator Carl Lorenz Eserjose.
