Main Menu

2003-04 Bloomfield Eskumors

Coming off a fourth place finish in the 2002-2003 LPSAA Tournament, the Bloomfield Eskumors looked to struck gold in 2003-2004.

Despite losing several key players through graduation from the previous season, the Eskumors mostly had the core of their 2003 lineup with Jigo Dela Cruz, Pierre Paderna and Paolo Valdehueza.

Leadership was settled as early as April when Paderna was given the bal as its new team captain but activity began weeks after the opening of the school year.

Juts Justiniani, Christian Cabanas and Nolly Pintac were among those added to an already strong squad in their hopes of capturing a basketball title.

After a long month of practice, the Eskumors were put to the metal in their debut match against a group of former varsity players namely Ronie Villanueva, Patrick Eusebio and Angelo Castro as part of the school's 18th year anniversary. The new Eskumors kept in contention for the duration of the exhibition game but the "Alumni All-Stars" as dubbed escaped with a 55-53 win to spoil Bloomfield's first game.

2003-04 Bloomfield Eskumors #4 Juts Justiniani #5 Nolly Pintac #6 Jigo Dela Cruz #7 Zander Carlos #8 Pierre Paderna #9 Deane Mapili #10 Mar Medina #11 Paolo Valdehueza #12 Rey Causapin #13 Jefson Sison #14 Nico Salvador #15 Gabo de Gala #16 Bonn Reyes #17 Richard Briones #18 Christian Cabanas #19 Gil Cabanas Head Coach: Weng Carballo Assistant: Lupo Gosengfiao Team Captain: Pierre Paderna

Two weeks later, Bloomfield pounded Divine Light Academy in a tune-up game to culminate their preparation for both the LAPPRISA and LPSAA tournaments. However, the first two weeks of September put a dismal beginning to their season as six players (Dela Cruz, Paderna, Pintac, Justiniani, Gabo de Gala and Jefson Sison) were suspended for either academic or conduct probations handed by the school.

It also hurt the team in the LPSAA debut when St Francis handed the Eskumors a 64-48 thrasing on September 13 as seldom-used players Mar Medina and Richard Briones led the team's attack. Despite the loss, the Eskumors recovered in time to place fourth in the week-long LAPPRISA tournament.

Since then, the suspensions on those six players were lifted and the team began a series of victories. After a close win over Elizabeth Seton, the Eskumors won the next four games by an average margin of 30 points a contest before St Marks ended the streak with a 82-73 win, in what could have been a potential finals preview.

With a 5-2 record and a second consecutive Final Four berth, the Eskumors were once again serious at a chance to win the LPSAA championship. But St Francis once again became spoilers to the team as it handed the green and gold squad a 70-65 win, eliminating Bloomfield in the process.

But there was one more game left to settle in a battle for third place against familiar rivals Divine Light Academy. In a close encounter, the Eskumors turned on a strong performance by Deane Mapili and Jigo Dela Cruz as the Eskumors came back from a five-point deficit in the last three minutes to capture third place with a 61-57 cliffhanger.

Dela Cruz ended his Eskumor career leading the team in scoring (16.4 ppg) while earning the Mythical Five selection in the LPSAA tournament and the Basketball Player of the Year Award by the school during the graduation rights.