Prius, Wildcats win in 25-and-under

Toyota Prius remained undefeated, picking up its fourth win in as many chances while the San Antonio Wildcats moved back to the .500 mark as action in the BANMI 25-and-Under Basketball League continued Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, Prius rallied from being down by as much as 14 points and dominated the second half for 92-79 victory over the Ghasias 7-Kings.

Prius, however, struggled at the early goings as the 7-Kings fired away with a hot start.

Scoring machine Fred Pelisamen and brother Ben were hitting everything they threw at the rim, combining for 18 points in the first 10 minutes of play, while solid support was provided by the likes of B.J. and Jeremy Kaipat as the 7-Kings took the early lead, 32-23.

Things continued to flow in the favor of the Ghasias cagers as they picked up where they left off and held their ground. Ben Pelisamen would go berserk from behind the three-point arc, nailing three bombs from downtown, eventually pouring in 11 points in the second period. Both teams would match each other with 24 points, resting at the half with Ghasias holding a strong grip on their nine-point lead, 56-47.

Things took a big change after the break as Prius came back charging on all cylinders. Team Toyota picked up its defensive intensity and silenced the 7-Kings while center Ambrose Ogumoro took control in the paint, lighting up for 10 points. Prius would limit the 7-Kings to just two points the entire quarter and took the driver seat, 69-58.

Prius would never relinquish their lead as they continued to pound the ball in the paint. Ogumoro remained a factor, adding nine more points to his corner while Paul Macgalas went to work for six points as Prius closed with ease.

Ogumoro and Jeremy Winkfield led Prius with 25 points apiece while Mike Olaitiman and Paul Macgalas finished with 16 and 12 points.

Fred Pelisamen finished with a game-high 26 points while brother Ben and B.J. Kaipat supported with 25 and 14 points.

In the nightcap, the Wildcats tormented the G-Rollers en route to a 94-81 victory.

JR Ngeskebei and Julian Ranas fueled a run-and-gun attack that resulted in the Wildcats leading from beginning to end.

Playing without center Ryan Mendoza, the G-Rollers leaned on the shoulders of bigman Kelvin Fitial and forwards Brian Flores and Derrick Tudela to keep in striking distance after the first three quarters, 61-66, but Ngeskebei, Ranas, and company were far from giving away their lead and went on a scoring rampage in the final 10 minutes to leave with the 13-point victory margin.

Ngeskebei and Ranas finished with 25 and 20 points while Henry Sablan and Tyler Yu contributed 16 and 14 points for the Wildcats.

Fitial and Tudela scored 18 and 15 points for the G-Rollers while Joemar Tumaquip and Flores chipped in 13 and 11 points.

First Game

Prius 92—Ogumoro 25, Winkfield 25, Olaitiman 16, Macgalas 12, Dilay 6, Libuw 4, Iguel 2, Tagabuel 2.

7-Kings 79—F. Pelisamen 26, B. Pelisamen 25, B. Kaipat 14, Je. Kaipat 6, Rabauliman 4, J. Pelisamen 2, Ja. Kaipat 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-32, 47-56, 69-58, 92-79.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

Wildcats 94—Ngeskebei 25, Ranas 20, H. Sablan 16, Yu 14, Kaipat 4, B. Sablan 4, Kapileo 2, Lizama 2, Manibusan 2, Echon 2, Kiyoshi 2.

G-Rollers 81—Fitial 18, Tudela 15, Joe. Tumaquip 13, Flores 11, Jos. Tumaquip 8, Jones 7, Teregeyo 7, Aldan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-14, 46-39, 66-61, 94-81.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jess Pacheco.