Block party every time Dalewin plays

Dalewin Cortez holds a block party every time he suits up for Cabalen-RP Construction/Transamerica in the Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League.

The 6’3” slotman finished the regular season tops in blocked shots after swatting an average of 2.1 shots a game.

Cortez, who first came into the local basketball scene after leading Aqua Resort Club to its first title in the 2004 season of the Mobil Oil Marianas Co-ed Invitational Basketball League, also contributed 5.5 rebounds and double-figure scoring for Cabalen.

NAMFREL-Region V/Sabungero center Larry Palero finished second in rejections, norming 1.8 per game. Forward Reynaldo “Badong” Camacho of CNMI Power-Mayor Juan B. Tudela was third with 1.5 blocks per outing.

MDX Amateur Radio Club-Armatech big man Richard Pambid and Visminda-Nel Atalig center Ed Cosino came in fourth and fifth with averages of 1.4 and 1.16 block shots per contest, respectively.

MDX slotman Marlon De Dios (1.14 blocks), 287 Club-McDonald’s Gil Gapor (1.0), Bibak-Island Card’s Jester Batonn (1.0), LIPS-Mobil forward Kevin Cequena (1.0), and 287 Club forward William Opone (0.8) round out the Top 10 in blocks shots.

Domingo is Sultan of Swipe

Chris Domingo not only led Cavite-Country House Restaurant in offense (17.4 points per game), he also was the team’s primary defender on the perimeter and led the league with 4.2 heists per ballgame.

Domingo also contributed on other areas as attested by the 5’6” sentinel’s 6.1 rebounds, 2.7 steals, and 73.5-percent clip from the free throw line.

NAMFREL playmaker Renato Pe also read the passing lanes well and wound up second in steals with 3.5 per ballgame. Cabalen point forward Randy Arnedo also made his presence felt on defense, averaging 3.0 steals, while scoring champ Rowell Aranda of LIPS and spitfire Fernando “Pando” Muleta of two-time defending champion Visminda round out the Top 5 with averages of 2.8 and 2.6 steals per outing.

Cequena (2.4), Gapor (2.2), Opone (2.2), LIPS’ James Abuy (2.2), and SMF-Shell human pogo stick Leo Itaas (2.2) make up the rest of the Top 10 in the steals department.

Triple Threat

Bryan Flores of SIP-Flor A. Miranda and Sonny Lerio of SMF finished tied in 3-pointers made during the regular season with 14 hits from downtown.

Flores, a former star from the IVYBL and Rotary leagues, averaged eight points off the bench for three-time champion SIP, while Lerio finished 10th in the league in scoring with 16.1 markers a ballgame.

Flores’ teammate Jester Garcia and Lerio’s teammate Gary Cayetano shared third place in the rainbow race with 11 made 3-pointers apiece, while four players—LIPS’ Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr., Pe, MDX guard Jolan Mendoza, and SIP veteran guard Robert “Onyok” Tamondong—finished all tied in fifth place with 10 threes each.

Cavite sweet-shooting swingman Randy Arconado and MDX high-leaping guard Martin Moreno round out the Top 10 in 3-pointers made with nine hits each.

B(e)ing on target

Visminda’s Bing Marasigan made 20 of 24 attempts from the free throw line to bag the regular season crown for most accurate free throw shooter at 83.3 percent.

Marasigan was not only automatic from the charity stripe, as he also contributed 10.2 points per ballgame and 1.1 hits from the land of last resort for the two-time champions.

Ed Palma, who rejuvenated his basketball life playing for Cabalen, may have lost a step or two, but the 5’7” guard could still hit his free throws, making good on 18 of 23 attempts for a 78.26 percent clip.

SMF’s Ruther Demegillo finished third in free throw percentage at 76.19 percent following a 16-of-21 stint on the charity stripe. Domingo and Pe were fourth and fifth with percentages of 73.5 percent (25-of-34) and 72.7 percent (32-of-44), respectively.

Camacho (71.4 percent), Opone (70.7), Cavite forward Joy Dayrit (66.6), last season’s most accurate free throw shooter Ferdie Tobias of 287 Club (66.6), and SIP forward Leo Factor (66.6) make up the rest of the Top 10 in free throw accuracy.

Statistics were provided and compiled by UFO official statistician Andrew Mesina.