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Sixers I in solo first
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Posted on Mar 09 2006
Sixers I leaned on the inside power of Matt Duenas to notch its fourth win in as many games and reclaimed the solo leadership of the 2005 Inter-Village Youth Basketball League.
Duenas struck for a game-high 26 points to lead Sixers I to a 55-43 victory against a stubborn House of Manhoeben Saints Wednesday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.
The forward-center got Sixer I going, firing 12 points in the opening eight minutes, as his team took control, 21-10.
Current scoring leader Luizi Reyes, however, retaliated in the second quarter, punching in half a dozen markers to rally the Saints to within six points of Sixers I’s lead, 19-25, at the break.
With Duenas slowing down, the rest of his Sixers I teammates carried the load at the start of the second half.
Joe Park tossed in four, Lawrence Echon three, and Ray Santos two to help Sixers I outscore the Saints, 13-8, in the third and opened up a 38-27 spread going into the final eight minutes of the ballgame.
It was a veritable shootout between Duenas and Reyes in the fourth after the two struggled with their shots in the third.
Reyes mocked all defenders assigned to stop him and fired 12 points and although Duenas scored four points less, his eight fourth-quarter points were just enough, as Sixers I romped away with the dozen-point win.
Like Duenas, Reyes was the only players in his team to finish in double figures with 21 markers.
Sixers I 55 – M. Duenas 26, Echon 7, Salas 4, R. Duenas 4, Park 4, Santos 3, Ajoste 2, Dela Cruz 2, Guerrero 2, Benavente 1.
Saints 43 – L. Reyes 21, Tudela 8, V. Iglecias 8, J. Reyes 4, Kaipat 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-10, 25-19, 38-27, 55-43. (Mark Rabago)
