Angel Wings, Capricciosa start strong

It was blowouts galore as the 2004 Inter-Hotel Restaurant Basketball League resumed play at the Garapan court.

Early yesterday morning, Angel Wings didn’t let their makeshift jerseys bother their game and routed defending champion Keeraku Restaurant, 79-45.

Despite the team being made up of players from different restaurants, chemistry didn’t seem to be a problem for Angel Wings as it raced to a 16-9 lead after the opening quarter.

Keeraku continued to struggle in the second with veteran Fyke Sabino the only effective scorer on the floor.

Angel Wings, meanwhile, rode on the shoulders of guard Butch Sublemente, who exploded for 10 points in the quarter, to help his team erect a 10-point lead, 36-26, at the break.

Things would go from bad to worse for Keeraku at the start of the second half. The team got beaten regularly on the fastbreak and point-blank misses only contributed to lessen morale.

Angel Wings, in contrast, was gaining confidence in each passing minute. Point forward Richard Tan ignited the team’s running attack and found open teammates on the break.

Guard Marlon Pineda got loose for 6 points and even Angel Wings’ reserves got into the scoring act as they entered the fourth with a comfortable 51-34 edge.

In the payoff period, Nonie “Elvis” Yambao frolicked in the inside and mocked all defenders assigned to him. The stringy forward pumped in 10 points in the final 10 minutes to help preserve the victory.

Sublemente and Yambao led Angel Wings’ balanced scoring attack with 14 points apiece. Sublemente, who played for Keeraku last, also hauled in 8 rebounds and Tan dished out four dimes.

Sabino didn’t get much help and scored 17 points and got 6 boards in Keeraku’s losing cause. Keeraku played minus starting center Pasky Peleno and shooter Jao Bernardo.

Two days earlier, preseason favorite Capricciosa flexed their muscles and overwhelmed El Segundo, 91-49.

Capricciosa started like a house on fire and took the first quarter, 26-10, as seven different players made it to the scorebook.

The carnage carried over into the second quarter, as El Segundo continued to grope for form and Capricciosa was able to extend their lead to 38-19 at intermission.

Center Reynaldo Camacho displayed an assortment of offensive moves in the third quarter and combined with fellow Rotary league veteran, Ed Arriola, to help Capricciosa end three quarters of play still on top, 57-32.

El Segundo already had all the beating it could take as the fourth and final quarter got underway but Capricciosa still played heads-up ball and celebrated with a 42-point win.

Camacho led all scores with 17 on top of two blocks. Arriola pumped in 14 markers, while former national player Gyles Ruluked had a solid all-around game with 12 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.

Ex-boxer John Jugos paced El Segundo with 22 points, while Ariel Abadilla chipped in 15 points.

Thursday’s Game

Angel Wings 79 – Yambao 14, Sublemente 14, Pineda 11, Eugenio 9, Mempin 7, Guiang 7, Vertudez 7, Tan 4, Toriente 3, Ocampo 2.

Keeraku 45 – Sabino 17, Mendoza 11, Cruz 11, De Belen 4, Than 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-9, 36-26, 51-34, 73-45.

Tuesday’s Game

Capricciosa 91 – Camacho 17, Arriola 14, Roman 12, Ruluked 12, Factor 11, Arconado 8, Agbanlog 7, Viola 6, Navarro 2, Suda 2.

El Segundo 49 – Jugos 22, Abadilla 15, Tenepera 6, Cruz 4, Patricio 2, De Vera 1.

Scoring by quarters: 26-10, 38-19, 57-32, 91-49.