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. latas.com.au | Volume 6 Number 10 | JULY 2016
www.kalatas.com.au
END OF SEASON
THRILLER AT
SSFABA LEAGUE
White lifts WorldRemit trophy
EXCITEMENT was at a feverish pitch at the Fairfield Leisure
Centre last month at the close of the Southwest Sydney Filipino
Australian Basketball Association Autumn 2016 season.
The White Team lifted the season’s WorldRemit
championship trophy after beating the Blues (48-46) in a
thrilling finals match that was not decided until the final
seconds of overtime play.
A tie at regulation (42-42) threw the fans in frenzy at
the Fairfield Leisure Centre where the games were held
(18 June).
The Whites led by guard Josh De Leon escaped a
relentless Blue offensive led by perennial scorers Archie
Patrimonio and Kenneth Ong to force a deadlock and turn
the tide in their favour.
“It feels really great to win the championship
considering that we started at the bottom of the league,”
said White team standout Josh who was eventually named
season MVP.
Six teams – White, Blue, Yellow, Red, Green and
Black – competed in the season games that ran for eight
Saturdays in the tournament sponsored by WorldRemit.
The Reds outclassed the Yellows in a tightly contested
pre-finals match to finish third this season. The Black and
Green teams opened the finals day with a no-bearing but
rousing match that ended in a draw.
Trophies to the top three placers were presented to
the teams in a closing programme. WorldRemit country
director Lee Towle and AK publisher Millie Phillips
joined tournament officials committee led by Romy Tan in
presenting the awards.
“Being part of the SSFABA is a privilege for
WorldRemit. This organisation is remarkable in how it
has provided a facility and means for its community to
get fit and healthy in a way that is fun – I’d like to say just
social but I’ve really seen a highly competitive streak,”
said Ms Towle of WorldRemit.
Individual awards
Guard Joshua de Leon of the White Team received
a trophy as this season’s Most Valuable Player. Josh
showed heart and passion in the finals game pushing to
continue playing while struggling against cramped legs.
Joshua averaged 11 points per game after seven rounds
in the season’s league.
Forward Allan Viola of the Yellow Team won the
prize of the best in a three-point shootout contest. The
3-point shootout was participated in by over a dozen
players from the different teams.
Their trophies were presented to them at the awarding
ceremony.
MVP Josh De Leon receiving his trophy from WorldRemit Country Director, Lee Towle.