Three-way tie still intact in MDX

The pennant race of the 2006 MDX Good Sportsmanship Basketball League Coca-Cola Cup continues to heat up as a three-way tie remains atop the team standings.

This, after RHT kept pace with defending champion Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense and powerhouse Budweiser by edging Kinpachi-Bank of Saipan, 113-107, Sunday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With the win, RHT improves to 5-1, which is identical to that of SIP and Budweiser. SIP defeated Budweiser in the season opener, Budweiser stopped RHT, and RHT defeated SIP.

RHT was in a bit of trouble in the early goings, though, as Kinpachi put up an interesting charge in the opening period.

Dave Sablan was in a zone of his own and tormented the defense for 14 points, while Larry Palero and Gil Gapor poured in eight and six points to fuel a 29-21 run.

RHT, however, was not going to be down much longer. Kevin Cequena and Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. combined for 12 points, and eight different players managed to score as RHT’s balanced attack enabled the team to turn the tables and take a 52-49 lead heading into the break.

Gapor and Mike Umali tried to bring Kinpachi back on top, but RHT’s deep bench was just too much to handle, and this time, nine different players punched in at least a basket, each chipping in to help for an 83-76 lead.

Sablan tried to rally his troops, scoring 16 points in the last 10 minutes. RHT pulled close with less than a minute to play and was down by five points a couple of times, but big free throws from Cequena and Estolas secured the win.

Estolas and Cequena led RHT with 23 and 21 points, while Jeremy Sablan and player of the game Errol Peredo pumped in 15 and 14 points.

Sablan scored a game-high 37 points to lead Kinpachi, while Gapor and Umali drilled in 28 and 15 points. Francis Rebuyon added 10 points.

Earlier, SMF improved to 3-3 but had to work hard for it as the team edged the young guns of the Northern Youth Basketball Association.

SMF had their way in the first period and took a 27-19 lead, but the NYBA All-Stars came storming back and little by little, closed in at the end of the remaining quarters.

Manuel Matagolai and Tyrone Omar combined for 17 points to help NYBA pull to within six points, 40-46, at the break, then the team moved to within four points at the end of the third, 63-67.

The NYBA crew continued to push hard, but in the end, SMF was able to survive the scare.

Andy Mortos was player of the game and led SMF with 21 points, while Leo Itaas and Ruther Demegillo added 17 and 14 points. Kelvin Aldan and Gary Cayetano also had 12 and 10 points.

Kevin Aldan led NYBA with 15 points, while Matagolai and Omar finished with 13 points apiece. Jon Ada also pumped in 10 points.

[B]First Game

SMF 89[/B] – Mortos 21, Itaas 17, Demegillo 14, Aldan 12, Cayetano 10, Dogillo 7, Montano 4, Felipe 4.

[B]NYBA 87[/B] – Aldan 15, Matagolai 13, Omar 13, Ada 10, Teregeyo 8, Chariton 8, Tarkong 7, Naraja 6, Mateo 3, Diaz 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 27-19, 46-40, 67-63, 89-87.

[B]Referees:[/B] Tom Alegre and Gilbert Espinosa.

[B]Second Game

RHT 113[/B] – Estolas 23, Cequena 21, Sablan 15, Peredo 14, Aranda 8, Capalad 8, Delos Reyes 7, Villarin 7, Ruluked 6, Joyner 4.

[B]Kinpachi 107[/B] – Sablan 37, Gapor 28, Umali 15, Rebuyon 10, L. Palero 8, Tobias 6, R. Palero 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 21-29, 52-49, 83-76, 113-107.