Cavite, SIP close first round on high note

Cavite-Country House and Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Flor Miranda closed the first round of the Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League on a high note Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the opener, SIP notched its fourth win in five chances to close the round just a game behind Division B leader Cabalen-RP Construction/Transamerica after erasing a first quarter deficit and steaming past NAMFREL-Region V/Sabungero, 88-76.

NAMFREL opened strong for a 24-19 lead, but was not able to hold on as outside sniper Bryan Flores connected for three triples and Leo Factor had three field goals to fuel a 20-10 run that turned the five-point deficit into a five-point advantage, 39-34.

SIP then picked their game up a notch and padded their lead with a balanced offensive show in the third, 61-53, and Jason Amado scored 12 of his 14 points in the final period to help the team secure the win.

Flores led SIP with 15 points while Elmer Esdrelon also had 14 points.

Larry Palero led all scorers with 22 points while Noel Sabordo scored 17 points, 13 of them coming in the third stanza.

In the second game, Cavite cooled off in the fourth period but still had enough juice to hold back CNMI POWER-Mayor Juan B. Tudela, 83-82.

Cavite was quick to grab control as Randy Arconado and Kevin Aldan combined for 18 first quarter points, spearheading a 26-19 run.

Guard Chris Domingo picked up where the two left off and poured in 13 points in the second as Cavite stretched the lead to nine points, 49-40, at the break.

The lead got bigger and was at 11 points, 73-62, at the start of the fourth quarter when CNMI POWER put on a comeback show.

Badong Camacho drilled three field goals and was nearly perfect from the charity line, hitting five of six shots to fuel a 20-point effort. What made the 20 points almost enough was that the CNMI POWER defense held Cavite to just 10 points. In the end, though, CNMI POWER still came up short.

Domingo led Cavite with 23 points while Tolentino and Aldan had 12 points apiece. Rommel Olayres and Arconado also had 10 points apiece.

Camacho and Jun Tabora led CNMI POWER with 21 points apiece while J.R. Barrios pumped in 13 points.

FIRST GAME

SIP 88 – Flores 15, Amado 14, Esdrelon 14, Garcia 9, Ja. Villacrusis 6, Factor 6, Guiab 6, Jo. Villacrusis 6, Mendiola 5, Mendoza 4, Tamondong 3.

NAMFREL 76 – Palero 22, Sabordo 17, Garcia 9, Gagate 8, Pe 8, Miday 4, David 4, Doronilla 2, Alvarez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-24, 39-34, 61-53, 88-76.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.

SECOND GAME

Cavite 83 – Domingo 23, Aldan 12, Tolentino 12, Arconado 10, Olayres 10, J. Dayrit 6, Montano 4, Manabat 4, Hernandez 2.

CNMI POWER 82 – Tabora 21, Camacho 21, Barrios 13, Usi 7, Dela Cruz 7, Pickell 5, Lauron 4, Ritual 4.

Scoring by quarters: 26-19, 49-40, 73-62, 83-82.