Choju still unscathed in Legends caging

Choju remained undefeated in the Legends Sports Association Invitational Basketball League Season 2 after thumping Bourbon Bar & Grill, 100-82, last Saturday at the Gillette Multi-Purpose Gymnasium in Gualo Rai.

Jay Art Palmes was front and center in Choju’s sixth win as many games in the A bracket after exploding for 41 points.

The hot-shooting guard torched all defenders tasked to guard him by scoring 13 points with three triples in the first 20 minutes of action as he helped Choju to a modest 39-35 lead at the half.

Little did Bourbon Bar & Grill know, the 5’4” guard was just getting started as he went from scorching in the first half to nuclear in the second half, exploding for 28 points including six triples as Choju broke the game wide open and won by 18 points.

Junior Aguon, Henry Aguon, and Gerald Mamis back-stopped Palmes’ 41-point effort with 17, 13, and 10 points, respectively. Marlon Binuya poured in 25 points in a losing cause for Bourbon Bar & Grill, while Richard Mendoza and John Paul Manansala chipped in 18 and 12 markers for the now 2-3 squad.

In the second game, Elite Force turned back a spirited rally by La Mesa Kusina, 80-72, in bracket B.

Elite Force got off to jackrabbit start and opened a double-digit lead in the first half, 47-32. La Mesa, however, found their groove in the second half and trimmed Elite Force’s once-formidable lead to single digits before losing steam and running out of time at the end.

Manuel Gatbanton paced the now 3-2 Elite Force with 25 points, while Mark Aycardo and Arvin Razon chipped in 19 and 11 markers, respectively. La Mesa, which dropped to 2-4 in the standings, was led by the game-high 32 points by Webb Gontar with Gutierrez adding 15 points.

Last Thursday, Unity Trade edged Best Real, 88-86, to improve to 4-1 in the B bracket. Best Real lost for the third time in five games.

In the nightcap, TanHoldings caught up with KagBros in the B bracket standings at 5-1 after beating Napa Auto Parts, 97-81, which dropped to zero losses in five games.

In last Tuesday’s games, KagBros maintained its lead in the B bracket at 5-1 following a 110-78 conquest of Longshot, which dropped to 2-3.

In the second game, Yuman took down SaveMore to raise its win-loss record to an even 3-3, while dropping the latter’s record to 1-4 in the A bracket.

First Game

Choju 100 – Palmes 41, J. Aguon 17, H. Aguon 13, Mamis 10, Pangelinan 7, Lizama 6, Faisao 4, Babauta 3.

Bourbon Bar & Grill 82 – Binuya 25, Mendoza 18, Manansala 12, Leightly 9, Esmores 8, Lacanilao 4, Boringgit 2, Mallari 2.

Scoring by halves: 39-35, 100-82.

Second Game

Elite Force 80 – Gatbanton 25, Aycardo 19, Razon 11, Hernandez 9, Fernando 7, Reyes 6, Sy 3.

La Mesa Kusina 72 – Gontar 32, Gutierrez 15, Bongolan 6, Albert 4, Agustin 4, Flores 3, Taraya 2, Apelo 2, Hernandez 2, Velasco 2.

Scoring by halves: 47-32, 80-72.