JSN, Vik Team advance in Eagles caging playoffs

JSN and Vik Team advanced in the masters and open division playoffs after they defeated their foes in the Inaugural SMEC-SMLEG Invitational Basketball Tournament 2023 Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

The games almost did not happen as it rained early in the afternoon, but thankfully it stopped and was just delayed by a few minutes. The delay in games did not dampen JSN’s gameplay as they blew Gualo Rai Warriors-Win Pacific out of contention, 80-62.

JSN had an early 8-0 advantage with fast takes at the net by Jun Tabora about five minutes into the game. Finally, Gualo Rai Warriors scored until it became 14-10 with JSN still in the lead. It was posts under the net and quick passes to Marlon Cabrera and Joseph Galulu that stumped JSN’s defense.

JSN’s defense finally came to life and held Win Pacific to just 10 points at the end of the first quarter. JSN’s Tabora and his 26 markers kept the fast pace going until the end, along with Cecilio Bisana’s 18 points, and Ben Pelisamen’s 11.

Gualo Rai Warriors—although it was home court advantage for them—tired out toward the end of the second quarter and onward as they could not penetrate JSN’s tough defense that towered over them. Galulu made do with 12 markers, while Darwin Gonzalez had one more than him with 13.

In the game between Vik Team and IT&E, IT&E fell prey to Vik Team one last time as they lost, 66-97.

IT&E came out of the league winless as they could not seem to tough it out against the league’s other teams. From the jumpball, Vik Team had victory in their sights as they did not waste any time to put a score up.

Vik Team had possession most of the game as IT&E fumbled their way through the court—depending on Patrick Morales to take them to the Promised Land—but to no avail.

Morales tried to carry the team the whole way with a game-high 19 points, but Vik Team’s chemistry and better ball handling shut him and his team down. Rodjay Macaraig tried to hustle his way to help Morales with 14 points, while Henry Divinagracia contributed 13, but it wasn’t enough to stop the flow of Vik Team’s back-to-back buckets.

Vik Team’s Joseph Torres put up 16 points, followed by San De Vero’s 15, and Yugie Cruz’s 11 markers.

The playoff game last Tuesday was delayed due to rain. Last night’s game, if it went through, was between Priority Care and Winner’s Group and Loving Hands vs. Solid North.

JSN 80 – Tabora 26, Bisana 18, Pelisamen 11, Montano 9, Berline 6, Umali 6, Manabat 4.

Gualo Rai Warriors-Win Pacific 62 – Gonzalez 13, Galulu 12, Samson 8, Agbanlog 6, Alano 6, Cabrera 6, Sablan 4, Younis 4, Tengco 3.

Scoring by quarters: 18-10, 39-21, 58-43, 80-62.

Vik Team 97 – Torres 16, S. De Vero 15, Cruz 11, I. De Vero 10, Nicodamus 9, Reyes 8, Apasan 8, Bathan 5, Gontar 5, De Dios 4, Ibe 4, Castro 2.

IT&E 66 – Morales 19, Macaraig 14, Divinagracia 13, Pineda 12, Jose 5, Tapay 3.

Scoring by quarters: 25-11, 48-23, 69-43, 97-66.