El Champions bag 1st win

El Champions bagged their first win in the Win Pacific Invitational Basketball League 2024 Masters Division.

It was a low-scoring game but El Champions managed to slip past Century Insurance, 52-46, last Sunday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

It was anybody’s game throughout as both teams were evenly matched.

El Champions was led by Romano Vicente as he made 10 consecutive shots in the first quarter. Century Insurance’ Fradel Sedillo tried to keep pace as he made 6 straight points himself. It was back-and-forth from there and that was the name of the game as both teams tried to get the better of the other.

The first quarter ended in a 4-point lead by El Champions, 24-20, while by the end of the second, Century Insurance had a tight 2-point lead, 34-32.

Century Insurance’ Ray Olopai and Sedillo were the difference makers as they took turns at the basket and shot the majority of their team’s points. However, Vicente was the lone wolf for El Champions and carried the team with non-stop baskets.

The rest of El Champions contributed but Vicente carried the team on his shoulders to victory. He led the game with 20 points and was the only one in double digits, while Jimmy Melendrez contributed 6 points and Patrick Rotap scored 5.

Meanwhile, Olopai put up 16, Sedillo scored 14, and Cristobal had 5 markers.

In the other game that day, UMI took down 670 Gravity, 72-69.

The games from last Tuesday were rained out between One Pacific and UMI,and Lakay vs. Swishas. At press time, the games set for last night were pending due to the weather.

In the standings, HBR leads with two wins; Tsingtao JTM, UMI, 670 Gravity, 670 Lakay, and El Champions are at an even 1-1; and One n Win and Century Insurance have no wins yet with one loss.

El Champions 52 – Vicente 20, Melendrez 6, Rotap 5, Aparte 4, Tapay 4, Dizon 4, Cruz 3, Manipon 2, Garcia 2, Bantaculo 2.

Century Insurance 46 – Olopai 16, Sedillo 14, Cristobal 5, Flores 3, Suba 2, Velasco 2, Pablo 2, Bravo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-20, 32-34, 45-38, 52-46.