Three more teams eliminated in UFO

Three more teams were eliminated Sunday in the ongoing Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With SMF-Shell, MDX Amateur Radio Club-Armatech, and 287 Club-McDonald’s going down, only six teams remain in the hunt for this year’s title.

Among the six are NAMFREL-Region V/Sabungero, Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Flor A. Miranda, and Cavite-Country House, which survived to advance deeper into the season.

In Sunday’s opener, NAMFREL got a huge lift from playmaker Renato Pe, who turned it on in the second half and scored 18 of his game-high 23 points to lead his team to an 88-82 victory over SMF.

NAMFREL led after the opening period, but lost the lead and was trailing after the second and third quarters.

Pe, who had a big role in bringing NAMFREL to within a point after three quarters because of his 12-point explosion in the third, continued to have the hot hand and buried a triple plus three free throws and Noel Sabordo attacked for 10 points to push NAMFREL ahead for the win.

Sabordo finished with 18 points, while swingman Jeff Garcia and center Larry Palero added 12 points apiece for NAMFREL.

Leo Itaas, Ruther Demegillo, Jimmy Sison, Sonny Lerio, and Giovanni Pardinan each finished in double figures for SMF.

In the second game, the SIP cagers hit turbo mode in the second half and distanced themselves from MDX for an easy 87-67 victory.

After holding just a nine-point lead at the break, 38-29, SIP made it harder for MDX and limited their opponents to 16 points—while drilling in 24 points—to pad their lead to 17 points, 62-45.

MDX continued to have trouble scoring and was not able to close the gap before the sound of the final buzzer.

Edmark Mendoza and Jester Garcia led SIP with 16 and 13 points, while Junar Guiab added 12 points. Edsel Mendoza and Elmer Esdrelon chipped in 11 points apiece.

Mike Umali led MDX with 18 points, while Martin Moreno, Melvin Capalad, and Elbyn Cecilia finished in double figures.

The final bout was a nail-biter as Cavite allowed 287 Club to erase a double-digit deficit and take the lead in the fourth quarter. Cavite, however, recovered and finished strong for a 96-87 victory, with 287 Club losing scoring threat Ariel Jinang late in the game.

Chris Domingo led Cavite with 34 points, while William Opone paced 287 Club with 25 points.

FIRST GAME

NAMFREL 88 – Pe 23, Sabordo 18, Garcia 12, Palero 12, Gagate 6, Alvarez 5, Samson 4, Mangahis 3, David 3, Miday 2.

SMF 82 – Itaas 14, Demegillo 13, Sison 12, Lerio 12, Pardinan 10, Cayetano 9, A. Tagle 6, M. Tagle 5.

Scoring by quarters: 17-13, 37-40, 58-59, 88-82.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jess Pacheco.

SECOND GAME

SIP 87 – Edm. Mendoza 16, Garcia 13, Guiab 12, Eds. Mendoza 11, Esdrelon 11, Flores 9, Jo. Villacrusis 7, Tamondong 3, Factor 3, Cabrera 2.

MDX 67 – Umali 18, Moreno 12, Cecilia 10, Capalad 10, De Dios 9, Sublemente 4, Mendoza 4.

Scoring by quarters: 19-13, 38-29, 62-45, 87-67.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Dado Vistal.

THIRD GAME

Cavite 96 – Domingo 34, Dayrit 20, Arconado 13, Montano 12, Tolentino 9, Aldan 5, Zapata 2, Manabat 1.

287 Club 87 – Opone 25, Jinang 16, Gapor 14, Rebuyon 11, Tobias 9, Samson 4, Mi. Achas 4, Peleno 2, Ma. Achas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-17, 50-42, 68-66, 96-87.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Eric Artillaga.