Country House, Jollibee victorious in debuts

Country House and Jollibee spanked separate rivals in their debuts in the 2004 Inter-Restaurant Basketball League over the weekend at the Garapan court.

On early Sunday, the Jollibee Stingers routed defending Inter-Hotel and Restaurant Basketball League champion Keeraku, 81-64, in the continuation of Wednesday night’s rained-out game.

After leading by just a deuce after the first quarter, Jollibee jumpstarted their running game in the second and as result opened up a 45-31 count at the break.

The Stingers continued to get heads-up plays from high-leaping Edwil Reyes in the third and entered the fourth and final quarter up by 18 points.

Jao Bernardo and Manny Mendez tried to rally Keeraku back in the payoff period, but timely hits by Jollibee’s reserves put the final score beyond doubt.

Reyes led the Stingers with 17 points, while Ronnel Gamboa and Dings Luna fired 12 points each.

Mendez paced Keeraku’s losing cause with a game-high 22, while Bernardo was good for 15 points.

On the 3-point shootout at halftime, Omar Ajoste beat Mendez, 7-3, to advance to next round.

The day before on Saturday, Country House became the first team to register a victory in this year’s restaurant league after it mauled a visibly overmatched LSG Sky Chefs, 73-34.

Country House already had the win inside their pockets as early as the first canto after LSG Sky Chefs literally had to bleed for their points and trailed 22-4.

Commercial league veteran Banjo Basila personally outscored LSG Sky Chefs in the first quarter after netting 8.

It was more of the same in the second quarter, as Dexter Cruzat picked up where Basila left off, pumping in 8 points as Country House entered lemontime with a 34-12 edge.

LSG Sky Chef even struggled against Country House’s second unit as they failed to put a dent on their opponents’ mammoth lead and still played catch-up, 53-21, with only 10 minutes to go in the contest.

It was all over but the shouting as the fourth quarter got underway with LSG Sky Chefs’ Alex Lauron scoring 8 meaningless points as Country House celebrated the 39-point rout.

Playmaker Edward Vega topscored for Country House with 14 points, while power forward Joy Dayrit added 12.

Lauron was the highpoint man for LSG Sky Chefs with 10 points. Swingman Ed Yalung added 7 points.

During halftime, Basila beat LSG Sky Chefs’ Joel Guinto, 5-1, in the 3-point competition after both players finished tied at 5 points apiece in the first round.

Sunday’s Game

Jollibee 81 – Reyes 17, Gamboa 12, Luna 12, Reolope 10, Dulog 7, Ajoste 7, Cruz 4, Marcelo 4, Lontoc 2, Isip 2, Manlapaz 2, Dela Mesa 2.

Keeraku 64 – Mendez 22, Bernardo 15, Cruz 10, Mendoza 7, Peleno 6, Imperial 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-13, 45-31, 63-45, 81-64.

Saturday’s Game

Country House 73 – Vega 14, Dayrit 12, Basila 9, Cruzat 8, Lopez 7, Tabei 6, San Gabriel 6, Mutoc 4, Rapadas 2, Maglente 2, Bautista 1.

LSG Sky Chefs 34 – Lauron 10, Yalung 7, Ocampo 6, Guinto 6, Seman 3, Redor 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-4, 34-12, 53-21, 73-34.