Spiders and Sixers sip from Mayor’s Cup

The 14-and-under Spiders and the 18-and -under Sixers were announced the champions of the 2nd Annual Mayor’s Cup Basketball Tournament on Sunday, as a weekend of intense basketball action wrapped up at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, Oleai Sports Complex.

The Spiders were able to come back from a 20-16 deficit against the 69ers at halftime to take the title 37-31. In a game that constantly went back and forth, the defending champion Sixers were just 2 points ahead of the defending Rotary League champion Ol’ Aces as the final buzzer sounded, 76-74.

When the 14-and-under championship between the Spiders and the 69ers got underway at 10am, both teams were wide awake and ready to vie for the title.

In the first half, the 69ers played like a well-rounded team. They passed the ball, working to all of their weapons and played solid defense. Preston Basa broke out for 6 points, while teammates Jake Maratita and Bill Babauta put 5 on it. Matt Sablan added a pair of buckets, and the 69ers went into the half with a 20-16 lead.

The Spiders also worked the ball around in the first half, but the majority of their points came from the hands of Ryan Manglona. Manglona led the team with 6 points in the first, followed by Daniel Mateo, Jesse Blesoch, Alex King and J. R. Delos Reyes, each scoring 2.

After a good halftime talk from their coach, the Spiders just plain went off in the second half. They continued to work the rock and play solid defense to smother the 69ers, 21-11, in the final stanza.

While the Spiders were passing the ball around like Tabasco sauce at the table, the 69ers relied on the strength of their big man Basa. Basa again led his team in scoring, going 5-for-8 at the line, accounting for all of his second half points. Martin Pangelinan, Ernest Duenas and Josh Arriola each had two points in the half, but it wasn’t enough.

The Basa show was no match for the Spiders’ team play. Eight of the 10 players on the Spiders’ roster scored in the second. Exploding out of nowhere was Mike Eclevia, netting 8 in the half. Jason Bahillo also came from zero-land in the first, adding 5 points via free throws.

Doing their part to help their squad to a 37-31 victory were fellow Spiders John Aldan, Walter Wesley and Gerard Camacho.

For the 18-and-under Sixers, the game with the defending Rotary League champion was neck-and-neck the whole way.

Led by strength of former IVYBL most valuable player Kevin Cequena’s 7 points, the Sixers got to the first quarter with a two-point lead. Forward Rowel Aranda pumped in 4 markers, while teammates Brian Flores and Jack Lizama each went for 3.

Leroy Kani put up 5 points for the Ol’Aces, and ballers Jeremy Winkfield, Paul Magcalas and Dan Barcinas all pitched in to keep the game close.

In the second, Winkfield took the lead, blowing up for 7 points, while Josh Kiyoshi hit for 4 of his 5 points.

The Sixers saw more solid play and even scoring as Aranda, Adrian Flores and Julian Ranas each had 4. For their part, Brian Flores and Adrian Echon added a bucket and a free throw apiece, and the Sixers went into the second half with a 39-31 lead.

The ground was shaking in the third quarter as Mount Magcalas erupted for 14 points. On the way there he hit two from downtown, went 2-for-2 at the line, and added three more buckets. Winkfield hit for 2, and all four of his free throws dropped in. Add to that Dan Barcinas waking up and hitting a trey, and the Ol’Aces had climbed their way into a two-point lead after three, 60-58.

The Sixers had been playing good defense all game, and it didn’t change in the fourth quarter, as they were able to hold the Aces to their lowest period total in the contest.

The Aces’ big three was pretty much held in check, with Barcinas and Magcalas going for 4 and Winkfield cooling off for 2. Artau Barcinas came off the bench to net 4 points, but it just wasn’t enough, as the Sixers were able to outlast the Ol’ Aces.

First Game

Spiders 37 – Eclevia 8, Manglona 6, Bahillo 5, Blesoch 4, King 4, Aldan 4, Mateo 3, Delos Reyes 2, Camacho 1.

69ers 31 – Basa 11, Maratita 5, Babauta 5, Sablan 4, Pangelinan 2, Duenas 2, Arriola 2.

Scoring by halves: 16-20, 37-31

Second Game

Ol’ Aces 74 – Magcalas 21, Winkfield 19, D. Barcinas 14, Kani 5, Kiyoshi 5, A. Barcinas 4, Ogumoro 2.

Sixers 76 – Cequena 19, Aranda 14, B. Flores 9, Lizama 8, Ranas 6, Echon 6, A. Flores 4, Buniag 4, Encio 2, Kaipat 2.

Scoring by quarters:16-18, 31-39, 60-58, 74-76.