Ayala Bulldogs Edge Diamond Bar Brahmas in Competitive Palomares League Matchup (Recap, Stats & Photos)

Game Recap: Ayala Bulldogs vs. Diamond Bar Brahmas

In a pivotal Palomares League matchup, the Ayala Bulldogs secured a hard-fought 65-61 victory over the Diamond Bar Brahmas on Friday night. Both teams entered the game with identical 1-1 league records, eager to rebound from recent losses and solidify their standing in the competitive league.

Key Moments of the Game

Diamond Bar faced a significant setback entering the game without one of their top scorers, Max Gao, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury in their previous game. Ayala capitalized on Diamond Bar’s struggles with turnovers, forcing 28 compared to their own 7, which proved to be a deciding factor.

The Bulldogs came out strong, building a 22-17 lead by the end of the first quarter. Diamond Bar showed resilience in the second quarter, embarking on a 6-0 run to briefly take a 23-22 lead. However, Ayala’s Braylen Pangan nailed a critical shot midway through the quarter to retake the lead, and the Bulldogs entered halftime up 36-28.

Ayala extended their lead to 57-43 by the end of the third quarter, powered by contributions from Jeremy Serrano (19 points) and Milo Tun (16 points). The Brahmas mounted a spirited fourth-quarter comeback, led by Tyler West’s 23 points and Jedi Chow’s 17 points, but Ayala’s composure in the final minutes sealed the victory.

Statistical Highlight

Ayala Bulldogs Leading Scorers:

Jeremy Serrano: 19 points, including one three-pointer
Milo Tun: 16 points, including three three-pointers
Joshua Townsell: 10 points, including two three-pointers
Josiah Yang: 8 points

Diamond Bar Brahmas Leading Scorers:

Tyler West: 23 points
Jedi Chow: 17 points

Team Stats:

Turnovers: Diamond Bar 28, Ayala 7
Rebounds: Diamond Bar 28, Ayala 17 (5 offensive rebounds)
Free Throws: Diamond Bar 16 of 18, Ayala 8 of 16
Three-Point Shooting: Diamond Bar 7 of 18, Ayala 5 of 15
Points in the Paint: Ayala 32

Post-Game Quotes from Coaches

Diamond Bar Head Coach Christian Manalo acknowledged turnovers as the key issue:
“Turnovers and our slow start were the crux of why we were in the position we were in. That many turnovers mathematically just doesn’t give you a real chance to win, but I’m proud we still had a chance,” said Manalo. “We have to take care of the ball, control our emotions in a big game, and leave it all out on the court.”

Ayala Head Coach Sameer Bhatt praised his team’s execution and teamwork:
“We played a great team game and demonstrated pride, unity, and urgency,” said Bhatt. “The key tonight was to execute our game plan and embrace playing a full-court game for 32 minutes. We definitely have room to improve, but overall, we did a great job of defending their drives to the basket and creating a bit of havoc to keep them from getting into a comfortable rhythm.”

Upcoming Games for Ayala and Diamond Bar

The Ayala Bulldogs will host Claremont High School on Tuesday, January 14, at 6:30 pm to build on their momentum. Meanwhile, the Diamond Bar Brahmas face another challenging test as they host district rivals Walnut Mustangs, the Palomares League’s second-place team, on the same night at 6:30 pm. Walnut enters the game undefeated in league play with a 3-0 record.

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