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2004-05 Bloomfield Eskumors

The Bloomfield Eskumors have made it to the Final Four of the LPSAA tournament twice but failed to make it past the semifinals.

2004 would change just that as the Eskumors made it to their first finals appearance. Despite the loss to St Francis in that game, it was still a momentus season.

At the start of the year, the team was again on a state of transition as nine players were lost to graduation, leaving Richard Briones, Deane Mapili, Nolly Pintac and Rey Causapin as holdovers. But reinforcements suffered early,

The team took several members from the Aspirants team that finished second in the Juniors tournament in early-2004. The team also got a big boost when Christian and Gil Cabanas, and Nico Salvador returned to the squad after their parents gave them the go signal to play.

But before they settled for a final lineup for the LPSAA tourney, the Eskumors would beat St Therese, STI Academy and Divine Light Academy in three tuneup games prior to the start of the season.

2004-05 Bloomfield Eskumors #4 Nico Salvador #5 Robin Ocampo #7 Michael Berbano #8 Jeronel Cillo #9 Deane Mapili #10 Edson Pariscal #11 Carlo Difuntorum #12 Rey Causapin #13 Richard Briones #14 Kamil Tolentino #15 Eman Cadahing #16 Aaron Pante #17 Nolly Pintac #18 Christian Cabanas #19 Gil Cabanas Head Coach: Weng Carballo Assistants: Lloyd Corpuz, Pierre Paderna Team Captain: Richard Briones

Bloomfield's first game in the LPSAA became a revelation for Jeronel Cillo. The former Aspirant member drilled three straight three-pointers en route to a career-best 20 markers in Bloomfield's 74-29 conquest of Infant Jesus Institute on September 3rd.

Six days later, the Eskumors defeated Blessed Trinity School (BTS) 50-45 in a tuneup match. The game ended when Briones and a player from BTS exchanged verbal spats in the fourth quarter of the match. After a 16-day rest, Bloomfield scored one of the biggest upsets in team history defeating guest team St Francis of Assisi College System-Taguig 78-67.

Michael Berbano delivered one of the most exciting endings in team history. Struggling throughout the contest, Berbano stole the ball and scored on a layup in the finals seconds to lift the Eskumors in a 64-62 nail biter over Elizabeth Seton School on October 2.

After winning by default over St Marks, Bloomfield moved to 4-0 in the elimination phase, recording a team record nine straight victories before St Anthony School ended the streak with a 52-48 upset on November 13.

Despite the loss, the Eskumors qualified for the final four for the third straight season.

Bloomfield faced a familiar opponent in the crossover semifinals, against Divine Light Academy. But the match became a "block party" for Christian Cabanas, as he swatted 13 shots in the game, a new team record.

Despite blowing a commanding lead in the final quarter, Bloomfield held on to a high-scoring 90-85 victory, advancing to their first-ever finals appearance in any tournament. Deane Mapili also recorded a career-high 26 points and 17 rebounds to carry them into a meeting with St Francis of Assisi College System (SFACS) for the championship.

But SFACS put an end to the title hopes of Bloomfield was unable to recover from a second-half meltdown, losing 55-63 to finish second in the basketball tournament.