DOJ Barkada put all doubts to rest on which team should be crowned champions in this edition of the Hoopsilonians Hardcourt Fellowship basketball tournament after it routed Protego, 92-61, in the do-or-die Game 3 of the finals series.

While the game remained competitive through the first quarter, DOJ Barkada began to pull away in the second period, establishing a double-digit lead by halftime. Their momentum only accelerated after the break, as they outscored Protego 49-29 in the second half to turn the contest into a rout.

The offensive charge was led by a spectacular performance from Esdee Dulay 2012, who finished with a game-high 28 points on efficient shooting, including four conversions from beyond the arc.

He got help from David Andres 2013, who dominated the interior with 15 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 blocks.

Despite a valiant effort from Protego’s Jacob Ang 2018, who notched a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Red Tomas 2016, who added 15 points, Protego struggled to find a consistent rhythm, shooting just 25% from the field as a team.

The true difference-maker proved to be the depth of the DOJ roster, as their bench outscored Protego’s reserves by a staggering 48-11 margin.

“Under players ang Protego team dahil absent si Luigi [Biraogo 2016], na nasa isang out-of-town family event. Dahil dito, kinulang sa big man ang Protego, habang ang DOJ Barkada naman ay all-out players ang lineup,” says Paulo Devanadera ‘98, who watched the game from the sidelines.

A 17-0 scoring run late in the game pushed the lead to as high as 35 points, effectively silencing any hopes of a Protego comeback. With superior ball movement and a significant advantage in points in the paint, DOJ Barkada controlled the tempo from start to finish to claim the Game 3 win.

As this season of the Hoopsilonians Hardcourt Fellowship officially closes, the community celebrates the sportsmanship and high-level competition displayed on the court.

Beyond the final score, the tournament continues to serve its ultimate purpose: fostering the lifelong brotherhood and fellowship that the Upsilon Sigma Phi stands for.