City of Basketball Love

Stephen Pianovich (@SPianovich)
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In Phil-Mont Christian’s quarterfinal game in the BAL playoffs on Tuesday, forward David Giuliani did something he rarely does: He asked his coach to come out of the game.

Giuliani was having shortness of breath during the game – a rout of Plumstead – and his mother wanted him to get it checked out. So he went to the doctor and learned something was wrong. Giuliani had fluid surrounding his heart from a previous virus and needed more examination, he wasn’t to step foot on a basketball court.

The junior had to watch Phil-Mont's game on Thursday from the bench, as the Falcons slipped by Lower Moreland in overtime. Giuliani had seen a specialist, but was awaiting test results before Saturday’s championship game with Jenkintown.

Those results came back Friday, and they featured good news. Just a day before the Bicentennial Athletic League title game, Giuliani had learned his condition had cleared up and he could suit up in the Falcons’ biggest game of the season to date.

“We went to the cardiologist and he took another look at it. And luckily it was all gone,” he said. “Thank God it was resolved quickly. …It’s been crazy, but I’m so thankful that everything worked out and I was able to help my team get a W.”

Giuliani was a huge reason for that win on Saturday, scoring a team-high 19 points and ripping down 12 rebounds as Phil-Mont withstood a barrage of Jenkintown 3-pointers in a 57-48 win. It was the second BAL title in three seasons for the Falcons, who went undefeated in league play and were the top seed in the 16-team playoff.

Giuliani used his 6-foot-4 frame to his advantage, getting a handful of his rebounds on the offensive glass, a lot of which he turned into put back layups. Giuliani went 9-for-13 from the floor and even stepped out for an early 3-pointer.

“Something my dad always tells me is that getting offensive rebounds is 100 percent effort and position,” he said. “So if you work hard and you’re trying to get it, chances are you will.”

Added Phil-Mont coach Glenn Dolton: “It was a real blessing to have him back, because he’s been playing like that all year. For him to get back out there, I know that made us and him feel great, because he’s a real good competitor. He brought a lot of energy to us when we were moping a long a little bit. He had a lot of intensity tonight.”

The game was tied 39-39 heading into the fourth quarter, as sixth-seeded Jenkintown proved it was no fluke that the team reached the championship game. But two things really helped the Falcons pull away in the final eight minutes: defense and free throws.

Jenkintown put on a shooting display in the first half, hitting seven 3-pointers to take a one-point lead into the locker room, and the Drakes his three more in the third quarter. But they didn’t knock down a single three in the fourth.

Phil-Mont also held leading Jenkintown scorer, Colin Mulvaney, to just two fourth-quarter points. Mulvaney still ended with a game-best 24 points and hit five 3-pointers.

“Early on we weren’t contesting like I thought we did in the fourth,” Dolton said of his team’s defense. “We got out on guys a little tighter. We extended our defense we normally play and did a better job switching. I also thought when we were able to score, it gave us more energy on the defensive end.”

The Falcons also ended up going 16-for-26 from the foul line, with a majority of those makes in the fourth quarter. Seniors Ozase Thorton, who had 16 points, and Noah Baldez (14 points) were both crucial at the foul line in the final two minutes.

Both teams will still play in the District 1 Class A playoffs, which start Friday. Jenkintown, which fell to 17-9, is the five seed and will face Collegium Charter in the first round. Meanwhile, Phil-Mont, at 25-1, is the top seed and plays Christopher Dock in Round 1.

“For this year, they’ve been really focused on taking everything one game at a time,” Dolton said. “And last year, that was a struggle. We returned our core and I’m proud for really jumping on board with our concepts and looking at what is right in front of us.”