Cintas' Romain Sato get off a shot while surrounded by a group of Stan Litz defenders during the Deveroes Summer League championship game. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        In one series toward the end of the game, Romain Sato put his final stamp on the 2002 Deveroes Summer Basketball League season and left little doubt that he was deserving of the tournament MVP award.

        The championship game was tied at 70 with 90 seconds left Sunday night. Joel Cornette of Stan Litz Law Office drove to the basket, and Sato went up high and convincingly blocked the shot. At the other end, Sato got the ball and pulled up for a 3-pointer thatgave Cintas the lead.

        Cintas went on to win the tournament title for the second straight year, 77-74, in front of more than 2,000 fans at Oak Hills High School. Cintas also defeated Stan Litz in last year's final.

        Sato, who will be a junior at Xavier, was quiet most of the night, but he averaged 21.7 points in three tournament games. He was guarded most of Sunday by Cornette and had to work for all of his 12 points. By all accounts, Sato was one of the most impressive players throughout the summer.

        “(Xavier assistant) coach (John) Groce gave me five different workouts I have to do each day,” Sato said. “So that's what I do. Every day, I have a shooting drill where I come off the dribble and off the screen. I work on inside-outside. I feel a lot of difference when I'm playing. In the summer league, I tried to drive more. The (XU coaches) want to make me get better, and that's what I want to do.”

        “His demeanor out there has been so good,” said former XU player Jamal Walker, the summer league's announcer. “Nobody wants to guard him. His shot is just so pretty coming off. It looks like it's going in even if it doesn't sometimes. He's a leader. He's picking up the pace.”

        A case could also have been made for one of the Doliboa brothers (Wright State) to win the MVP award. Cain, who won the honor last year, led Cintas with 22 points, and Seth added 19.

        Equally impressive was Dedrick Finn, an incoming freshman at Xavier who scored 14 points, including four 3-pointers — a couple from the 23-to-25-foot range.

        Finn had three big 3s in the first half when Cintas came back from an early eight-point deficit. His third shot, with the shot clock running out, gave Cintas a 42-33 lead.

        The summer league has often been a stage for new Xavier and Cincinnati players to create a buzz about their arrival. Finn served notice that he's ready to help the Muskies immediately.

        “I just came out here to have fun and play and gain experience,” Finn said. “I didn't really come out here to get a name or anything. I think I'm ready (for the season). As a point guard, you've got everything you want on the Xavier team. You've got the big man (David West) and you've got Sato. I'm looking forward to playing.”

       Deveroes Basketball League
       At Oak Hills High School
       Sunday (Championship)
       CINTAS 77, STAN LITZ 74

        STAN LITZ LAW OFFICE (74): Keith Waleskowski 21, Nick Monserez 9, Joel Cornette 14, Adam Waleskowski 10, Jordan Cornette 10, Jake Bazeley 8, Mike Lee 0, Tim Schenke 2, Tom Price 0, Ryan Caldwell 0.

        CINTAS (77): Cain Doliboa 22, Romain Sato 12, Brooks Hall 0, Dedrick Finn 14, Jesse Deister 2, Seth Doliboa 19, Brandon Cole 4, Bert Capel 0, Angelo Smith 4.

        Tournament MVP: Romain Sato

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