SOUTHERN SECTION BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Pacifica’s Alliman Uses Modest Numbers to Produce

Pacifica’s basketball team, out-fought, out-muscled and out-hustled in the paint, turned to its dominant inside force Saturday. So what if he’s only 6 feet 1?

Ramon Alliman did not disappoint.

Alliman, a senior, pushed, shoved and soared in the second half to help the Mariners defeat San Dimas, 63-49, in the Southern Section Division III-A boys’ championship game.

Alliman finished with 11 points--10 in the second half--and five rebounds. Modest numbers, but most came at important moments.

He scored six points in an 11-3 third-quarter run that gave the Mariners a 38-35 lead. More importantly, was where he was doing the damage--inside.

“Coach said we had to pick it up inside,” Alliman said. “If we did, good things were going to happen.”

Alliman has been creating good things with his inside play all season. His ability allows Jon Surface (6-8) and Chris Vlasic (6-5) to play on the perimeter, safe in the knowledge that their size will not be missed down low.

“He’s 6-1, but he has a 6-8 heart,” first-year Coach Bob Becker said. “That, and his 32-inch vertical leap, make him difficult to stop.”

That trait wasn’t obvious at first glance to Becker. He had Alliman pegged as a guard. Then he saw Alliman play.

“He’s hungry when he gets inside,” Becker said.

The Mariners needed that desire Saturday.

San Dimas had owned the inside in the first half. The Saints had a 21-11 edge in rebounds. They had nine offensive rebounds, which led to six points.

San Dimas led, 27-25, at halftime. In stepped Alliman. He scored on an offensive rebound to start the second half and the Mariners were off and running.

Alliman scored eight points in the quarter, four on offensive rebounds. He had three offensive rebounds in the quarter and four for the game.

Alliman scored on a layup to give Pacifica a 36-35 lead with 3 minutes 56 seconds left in the quarter. A moment later, he grabbed an offensive rebound and scored for a 38-35 lead. Pacifica never trailed again.

“Ramon is the reason we won this game,” Becker said.

Said Alliman: “I love going against bigger guys. They’re slow. I kill them with my quickness. That gives me a charge.”

And, on Saturday, that charge gave the Mariners a jump start.