Cabalen still unbeaten, 287 survives

Cabalen-RP Construction/Transamerica extended its win streak while 287 Club-McDonald’s had enough juice to survive as action in the Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League continued Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Cabalen cagers were put to the test, as they had to hold off a determined charge by SMF-Shell to escape with an eight-point victory, 92-84.

With the win, Cabalan remains one of three undefeated teams in the league and now sit with a 5-0 win-loss card to lead Division B.

Cabalen had no trouble in the opening period and led 23-15, but the lead was quickly chopped down as Leo Itaas led a strong SMF charge that dropped the deficit to just five points, 33-38 heading into the break.

SMF, however, was not able to match Cabalen’s firepower as forward Darwin Barbo and Boboy Sampang combined for 11 points in the third stanza to pad the lead back up to nine points before Randy Arnedo led a closing out run in the end to seal the win.

Arnedo led Cabalen with 16 points, while Barbo and Sonny Ranola added 15 and 13 points. Ed Palma and Jason Gatdula also chipped in 10 points apiece.

Itaas and Sonny Lerio paced SMF with 22 and 20 points.

In the second game, 287 Club busted up a big lead and barely held on for a 97-95 win over CNMI POWER-Mayor Juan B. Tudela.

287 Club led by 11 points after the first period, 26-15, but CNMI POWER refused to give up and fought back to close the second and third periods within seven points, 40-47 and 63-70.

J.R. Barrios then drilled 13 points in the last 10 minutes to pull CNMI POWER close, but the team fell just short as 287 had enough juice to leave with the win.

William Opone had the hot hand for 287 Club with 34 points, while Francis Rebuyon and Ariel Jinang added 16 and 15 points.

Barrios led CNMI POWER with 35 points, while Russel Ritual and Badong Camacho had 11 and 10 points.

First Game
Cabalen 92 – Arnedo 16, D. Barbo 15, Canlas 13, gatdula 10, Palma 10, Ranola 9, G. Barbo 6, Sampang 5, Pineda 4, Ocampo 2, Delos Reyes 2.
SMF-Shell 84 – Itaas 22, Lerio 20, Moses 9, Demegillo 8, A. Tagle 8, Cayetano 7, Delfin 4, B. Tagle 3, Robles 2, Badilles 2.
Scoring by quarters: 23-15, 38-33, 62-53, 92-84.
Referees: Dado Vistal and Arnold Mesa.

Second Game
287 Club 97 – Opone 34, Rebuyon 16, Jinang 15, Tobias 9, Peleno 9, Gapor 4, Samson 4, Mi. Achas 2, J. Achas 2, Lizo 2.
CNMI POWER 95 – Barrios 35, Ritual 11, Camacho 10, Galag 6, Usi 6, Calvo 6, Macoto 6, Dela Cruz 4, Pickell 4, Dela Torre 2.
Scoring by quarters: 26-15, 47-40, 70-63, 97-95.
Referees: Erick Artillaga and Noel Delos Santos.