Aqua Resort Club thumps Dai-ichi, bags third place
Aqua Resort Club once again leaned on its big three to down slumping Dai-ichi Hotel, 71-65, and claim third place in the Mobil Oil Invitational Basketball Tournament Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
After a 16-all tie at the end of the first canto, Aqua Resort surged ahead in the second quarter and led by 6 points, 41-35 at the half.
Aqua Resort exploited to the hilt the absence of bull-strong Tom Alegre in the initial minutes of the ballgame as the Dai-ichi playing coach showed up late to the encounter.
Behind the shooting of George Prudente and Rodel Alcantara and the inside presence of Cris Bojocan, Aqua Resort established a 53-45 advantage at the end of three quarters.
Going to the fourth and final period, the boys of coach Manny Barcial looked all but ripe to take third place despite the best efforts of hotelier Adonis Macoto.
The 5’7” point guard would erupt for 8 of his game-high 18 points in the last 10 minutes of the game but it proved not enough to stem the tide and Aqua Resort won the game and claimed the second runner-up trophy.
Prudente and surprise package Arnold Arellano went on to pace Aqua Resort with 14 points each, while Alcantara was good for 12 points.
Although, he finished with just 6 markers, Bojocan nevertheless was a terror on the paint and controlled the combustible Alegre down the stretch.
Dai-ichi, which saw its 2002 campaign end in a bitter note after a great start that saw it capture the pennant, had four players in double figures led by Macoto’s 18 points.
Aqua Resort Club 71 – Prudente 14, Arellano 14, Alcantara 12, Bojocan 10, Reyes 6, Manzon 6, Dela Yola 5, Marquez 4.
Dai-ichi Hotel 65 – Macoto 18, Pangelinan 10, Galag 10, Alegre 10, McEntee 6, Alipala 6, Sinola 5.
