Priority Care, Loving Hands draw 1st blood in playoffs

Priority Care and Loving Hands drew first blood in the Open Division A playoffs of the Inaugural SMEC-SMLEG Invitational Basketball Tournament 2023 Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Priority Care came out strong against Homesmart, 83-77, and clinched the playoff spot against Solid North.

On a thankfully clear evening, Priority Care and Homesmart got underway with the long-awaited playoff games of the dragged-out league. Priority Care’s Steve King started it off as usual with unchallenged buckets until they stalled at 15 points.

Homesmart was rooted in place and were down 3-15 but with a resurgence led by Jeff Victoria, the first quarter ended, 10-18.

King was the go-to man for Priority Care as always but missed some opportunities that Homesmart capitalized on in the second quarter. Victoria tried to cut the lead as much as he could with help from Jonel Palima, but King bounced back and became a net magnet again.

Homesmart was down by just 10 points heading into the third quarter until King continued his trek to over 40 points in the game. With great passes by his teammates and Homesmarts’ faltering defense, Priority Care’s lead grew, 63-47.

In the end, Palima nearly succeeded in taking the win away with his 34 points and Victoria’s 33 markers, but King’s 43 big ones and Matt Duenas’ 16 points overpowered them to win by just a 6-point margin.

After their game, Loving Hands defeated Socho, 60-48, for the playoff spot against Winners Group.

It was definitely a fight to the finish to see who wanted to stay in contention as both teams brought out their firepower from the get-go.

A slim, 3-point lead by Loving Hands in the first half turned into a 6-point lead by the end of the third quarter thanks to Loving Hands’ Jude Tengco and Carlos Elchico.

Loving Hands’ defense tightened up just as Socho’s offense slipped which caused a ripple effect of consistent baskets by Loving Hands. Meanwhile, Socho was reduced to just 16 points and Loving Hands exploded fpr 22 points in the last quarter.

Tengco ended up with 12 points, while Rafael Ordona and Elchico provided 10 markers each. Socho’s Derek Olopai was the lone ranger in double digits with 12 points, while Timmy Pangelinan racked up 9 markers.

First Game

Priority Care 83 – King 43, Duenas 16, Agulto 10, Taimanao 4, Manglona 4, Elameto 2, Mafnas 2, Pelisamen 2.

Home Smart 77 – Palima 34, Victoria 33, Dionicio 6, Castro 2, Jumaquio 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-10, 43-34, 63-47, 83-77.

Second Game

Loving Hands 60 – Tengco 12, Ordona 10, Elchico 10, Bravo 8, Bernardo 8, Lisua 6, Tabora 3, Dancel 2, Bahillo 1.

Socho 48 – Olopai 12, Pangelinan 9, Sambile 8, Q. Faisao 8, Babauta 3, Hocog 2, D. Faisao 2, Guerrero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-9, 22-19, 38-32, 60-48.