Defending champs keep abreast of Labor

Department of Public Safety Enforcers boosted its title-retention bid, earning its eighth win in 10 games and a share of first place after beating Legislature Lawmakers, 99-81, Thursday night in the 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Enforcers got going early, getting six points apiece from lightning-quick Joe Ito and versatile Ben Pelisamen to open up a 25-19 lead after the first quarter.

Ito and the defending champions continued to hum on offense in the second quarter, as the pint-sized point guard put in another king-size effort, exploding for 11 more points to give DPS a more comfortable 15-point spread, 53-38, at intermission.

Lawmakers tried to charge back at the start of the second half. Missing one of its leading scorers, Ray Duenas, the Legislature team relied on scoring phenom Dave Sablan and the former Sixer didn’t disappoint and scattered 12 points in the period.

It hardly made a dent, though, as DPS relied on balanced scoring in the third to enter the fourth and final quarter still on top, 73-59.

After a measly two-point production in the third, Ito was back to his hot-shooting ways in the payoff period, burning the hoop for 13 more points.

Cage belle Connie Camacho also got a piece of the action, unloading all of her seven points, as the Enforcers finished off the Lawmakers.

Ito topscored for DPS with 32 points, while high-flyer Roy Kaipat and Pelisamen added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Sablan and Sim Iramk tried to compensate for Duenas’ absence, scoring 31 and 20 points to pace the Lawmakers, which dropped to 3-8 in the team standings.

In the first game, Department of Community and Cultural Affairs held off a feisty Office of Public Auditor team, 70-64, to remain in striking distance of co-leaders Enforcers and Department of Labor at 7-2.

DCCA was led by guard Elias Rangamar’s 23 points and power forward Romeo Iginoef’s 20 points.

Center Dave Camacho and Jeff Quitugua led OPA in a losing cause with 16 and 15 points, respectively. It was the seventh loss in 11 games for OPA.

First Game

DCCA 70 – Rangamar 23, Iginoef 20, Dela Cruz 18, Sablan 6, Benavente 3.

OPA 64 – D. Camacho 16, Quitugua 15, J. Camacho 9, Torres 8, C. Camacho 6, Sasomoto 6, Pangilinan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 13-12, 30-27, 53-48, 70-64.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Eric Artillaga.

Second Game

Enforcers 99 – Ito 32, Kaipat 11, Pelisamen 10, Celis 9, Taitano 8, C. Camacho 8, P. Camacho 7, Manglona 7, Saralu 7.

Lawmakers 81 – D. Sablan 31, Iramk 20, Mendiola 12, J. Sablan 8, Cabrera 6, Camacho 2, Olaitaman 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-19, 53-38, 73-59, 99-81.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.