Old Aces school Triple L, 97-47

Old Aces schooled Triple L/Tax Pro, 97-47, in the continuation of the NMIBF Masters Preseason Basketball League and last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Triple L was left in the dust quickly and had to scramble for the lead from the get-go. They tried to pace with the Old Aces in the majority of the first quarter, but was halted by the Old Aces’ much more potent defense.

The second quarter proved to be the turning point, with Triple L seizing the opportunity to close the gap. From a 22-13 first quarter in favor of Old Aces, Triple L’s offense came alive in the second, sinking fast-break plays back-to-back baskets by Fradel Sedillo to get within one point, 32-31.

However, Old Aces’ Tony Diaz came bearing down the court with a force that outmatched Triple L and managed to pull them away into a 10-point, 41-31, distance by the end of the first half.

The third quarter saw the start of the inevitable fall of Triple L as Old Aces’ smooth shooters Diaz and Romeo Iginoef let bucket after bucket swish the net without much retaliation from a collapsed Triple L defense. Diaz completed 26 points, while Iginoef scored 13.

Only 16 points were scored by Triple L in the third quarter, and at the end of it, Old Aces doubled their lead to a 20-point 67-47 deficit.

Darkness then blanketed Triple L’s offense in the last quarter as they could not get their shots in and ended the quarter without a single point. Despite an impressive second-quarter surge, Triple L ultimately succumbed to a devastating fourth-quarter collapse, resulting in a blowout loss by a staggering 50-point margin.

Old Aces’ Chris George’s 11 points and Dan Joab and Peter Camacho’s 10 markers each assisted Diaz and Iginoef with their first win of the season. Sedillo was all alone in double-digit territory with 12 points, while Rommel Usi scored 9, and Sonny Lerio put up 6.

Old Aces 97 – Diaz 26, Iginoef 13, George 11, Joab 10, Camacho 10, Tudela 9, Mendiola 7, Libuw 6, Guerrero 5.

Triple L/Tax Pro 47 – Sedillo 12, Usi 9, Lerio 6, Embile 5, Pineda 5, #8 4, Pagcaliwagan 2, De Belen 2, Valio 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-13, 41-31, 67-47, 97-47.