Visminda alone on top of Division A

Visminda-Tambayan/Nel Atalig is now alone on top of their division after beating LIPS-Mobil, 106-93, capping another Sunday triple-header in the ongoing Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With the win, Visminda extended their perfect record to 5-0, while the loss was the first in four games for LIPS, who sits in second place.

It was a neck-and-neck battle for the first three periods, with LIPS taking the slim lead early on courtesy of Rowell Aranda’s 11 points and Ed Soriano’s seven points propelling them to a 22-20 advantage after the first quarter.

Visminda pulled the right strings and got a huge lift from center Jawn Joyner, who poured in 10 points to level the game at 45-45 heading into the break.

LIPS opened strong in the second half, going on a 5-0 run to start the third quarter, but Visminda was quick to respond and dominated in the paint to streak ahead. Guard Bing Marasigan also punched in a decent show as he nailed a couple of triples and had 10 points in stanza as Visminda broke open a nine-lead.

Visminda, however, had trouble closing out the period and committed three straight turnovers that LIPS gladly took advantage of. The Mobil-backed team scored four unanswered points off of the first two turnovers, and had another shot at closing in on another turnover but was not able to cash in on the opportunity, 66-71.

Visminda then turned to big men Ed Cosino and Jorge De Guzman, who both had a party in the paint and combined for 20 points in the last 10 minutes to lead the team to victory.

LIPS also struggled to put the ball through the hoop and soon saw their deficit rise to as much as 17 points.

Cosino and De Guzman led Visminda with 22 and 18 points, while Marasigan and Joyner pumped in 15 and 12 points.

Aranda led LIPS with 32 points, while Andres Estolas and James Abuy added 20 and 13 points.

Earlier, Cavite-Country House had six players finish in double figures in a 102-68 victory over Bibak-Island Card. The win brought Cavite back to the .500 mark with a 2-2 record while Bibak dropped to 0-5.

NAMFREL-Sabungero/Region V also scored a 77-71 victory over Bayani-HBR International, rallying in the second half to erase a nine-point halftime deficit. NAMFREL also evened their record at 2-2 while Bayani dropped to 0-5.

FIRST GAME

Cavite 102 – Aldan 19, Arconado 16, Domingo 10, J. Dayrit 10, Vega 10, Tolentino 9, Olayres 7, Manabat 4, Hernandez 2.

Bibak 68 – Pacheco 20, Almendras 12, Casabuena 10, Sanciangco 8, Miguel 8, Ardales 4, Ong 4, Rodillo 2, Cantos 2.

Scoring by quarters: 27-20, 51-38, 78-46, 102-68.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Manny Sitchon.

SECOND GAME

NAMFREL 77 – Pe 26, Palero 24, Garcia 14, Miday 4, Gagate 4, David 3, Nato 2.

Bayani 71 – R. Tordilla 28, Agbanlog 14, Guzman 9, Borja 7, Pineda 4, Limpin 2, R. Hilario 2, Villaluz 2, M. Hilario 2, Poquiz 1.

Scoring by quarters: 12-16, 31-40, 55-55, 77-71.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.

THIRD GAME

Visminda 106 – Cosino 22, De Guzman 18, Marasigan 15, Joyner 12, De Belen 9, Peredo 8, Muleta 7, Bicera 7, R. Gamboa 4, Babauta 2, Uy 2.

LIPS 93 – Ro. Aranda 32, Estolas 20, Abuy 13, Soriano 9, Artates 7, Espinosa 4, Verano 4, Villarin 3, Surima 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-22, 45-45, 71-66, 106-93.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.