By Phil Jensen
Special to Chabot Athletics
HAYWARD – From the opening tip of the Gladiator Basketball Classic championship game on Saturday night, the Chabot College men's basketball team was on the move.
Isaiah Saams Hoy drove for a basket just 22 seconds into the game, starting a very successful evening for the Gladiators. Chabot never trailed against Feather River College and kept its lead in double-digits for the last 25 minutes of the game in a 93-67 victory.
Chabot coach Keenan McMiller, whose team improved to 3-0 in the young season, was pleased with his squad's teamwork, passing and shooting.
"We're getting more confidence," he said. "Our defense is there … the teamwork, the passing, the offense is starting to go."
The Gladiators' Skylar Robinson, who scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half and had a team-high 11 rebounds, was named tournament MVP. Other Chabot players who were selected all-tournament included Jaiden Rivera (who had a team-high 17 points on Saturday) and David Ogunleye (who had seven rebounds in the championship game) .
The 6-foot-8 Robinson sank two consecutive three-pointers early in the second half to give Chabot a 58-39 lead.
"Initially, I was actually trying to go more inside because my three hadn't been falling the previous game. But they were spacing out so much, I was like 'I'm going to let it fly,'" he said.
The Gladiators were missing some pieces, but the nine players who were available came through – seven of the players scored between seven and 17 points in Saturday's game, and five were in double figures: Rivera, Robinson, Saams Hoy (16 points), Isaiah Veal (15) and Diggy Winbush (11).
Chabot led by only one point almost three minutes into the game (7-6), but went on an 8-0 run to get a little breathing room. But Feather River stuck around and was within three points at 25-22 with nine minutes, eight seconds left in the first half.
But Winbush was a sparkplug off the bench for the Gladiators. The 6-1 freshman, who prepped at Taft High School in Woodland Hills, flipped in a shot in the key, then nailed a long three-pointer for five of his eight first-half points. Rivera and Robinson followed with two free throws apiece and Chabot had a 34-24 lead with 7:04 remaining in the first half. Feather River didn't get closer than eight points the rest of the game.
"We're still learning how to close people out, have that mean streak, don't get nice and comfortable when you get a lead and then you let teams come back in," McMiller said.
Chabot definitely didn't let Feather River back into the game in the second half. The Gladiators led by 26 points with 8:06 remaining (73-47) and kept the advantage over 20 points the rest of the game.
 Christian Pitcher was quietly effective for the Gladiators in the game. The 6-6 sophomore scored nine points, grabbed six rebounds and passed for a team-high four assists. The 6-4 Saams Hoy added a team-high three blocks.
Chabot will look to build on its great start when it travels to Monterey Peninsula College for a game on Friday, then plays in the Shasta College Invitational Tournament on Nov. 17-20.
"I think, from top to bottom, we just have a collection of talent," said Robinson about what's special about his team. "This is a great start, but we're looking, in terms of long-term, towards the end of the season."