Budweiser, SIP keep pace

Powerhouses Budweiser and defending champion Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense kept pace with RHT in the interesting pennant race of the 2006 MDX Good Sportsmanship Basketball League Coca-Cola Cup.

This after the two teams both improved their win-loss records to 4-1 for a three-way tie atop the league standings with RHT.

In the opener, Budweiser picked up its fourth straight win after downing Kinpachi, 110-92.

Kinpachi did not hand the win on a silver platter, though, as the team gave Budweiser a good run in the early stages.

Kinpachi’s Sonny Ranola and Budweiser’s Taj Van Buren engaged in a scoring duel, with Ranola pumping in 14 points and Van Buren pouring in 11 points. Both did their jobs and the two teams were knotted at 28-28 after the first period.

Budweiser went ahead in the second quarter after outscoring their opponents, 28-20, for a 56-48 halftime lead.

The lead grew in the third as Van Buren and Dennis Vinas combined for 17 points, leading Budweiser to stretch their lead to double digits, 83-69, with one quarter remaining.

James Abuy then gave Budweiser quality minutes as he hit three triples in the final minutes and scored 11 points to help his team close strong.

Van Buren finished as the player of the game with 26 points to lead Budweiser, while Vinas and Abuy pumped in 16 and 15 points. Jolan Mendoza and Sonny Lerio also added 13 and 12 points.

Ranola finished with a game-high 29 points, while Francis Rebuyon and Gil Gapor added 15 and 14 points. Dave Sablan finished with a triple-double after scoring 11 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, and issuing 13 assists.

Shortly after, SIP dominated and was able to cruise past SMF, 115-94.

SIP controlled the game from the start as the team opened with a 35-14 first quarter push for the early lead, with Fred Pelisamen leading the way with 10 points.

SMF was able to close the gap in the second, outscoring SIP, 23-17, to cut the deficit to 15 points, 37-52, at the break.

SMF managed to cut to within 10 points, but that was as close as they got, as SIP’s quick transition was too much to handle. Captain Rick Alegre caught fire for SIP in the period and scored 14 points on numerous drives in the lane. Alegre and company went into the final period ahead by a mile, 86-54.

Pelisamen got back into the scoring act and worked for another 17 points, as SIP closed without problems despite Andy Mortos scoring 13 points for SMF.

Pelisamen finished with a game-high 31 points, while Alegre added 17 points. George Barbo and Sam Fernandez also had 10 points apiece.

Mortos led SMF with 26 points and 14 rebounds, all coming in the second half, while Gary Cayetano and Ruther Demegillo pumped in 16 and 15 points. Kelvin Aldan also had 12 points.

[B]First Game

Budweiser 110[/B] – Van Buren 26, Vinas 16, Abuy 15, J. Mendoza 13, Lerio 12, Rangamar 8, Factor 5, De Dios 4, Demapan 4, Celes 4, Cruz 3.

[B]Kinpachi 92[/B] – Ranola 29, Rebuyon 15, Gapor 14, Sablan 11, R. Palero 8, L. Palero 7, Umali 4, Achas 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 28-28, 56-48, 83-69, 110-92.

[B]Referees:[/B] Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.

[B]Second Game

SIP 115[/B] – Pelisamen 31, Alegre 17, Fernandez 10, G. Barbo 10, Esdrelon 9, Mendiola 9, Flores 9, Guiab 8, D. Barbo 6, Montano 6.

[B]SMF 94[/B] – Mortos 26, Cayetano 16, Demegillo 15, Aldan 12, Montano 8, Tabora 8, Dogillo 6, Itaas 3.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 35-14, 52-37, 86-54, 115-94.

[B]Referees:[/B] Eric Artillaga and Jess Pacheco.