Ace Hardware, GPPC top foes in Emon Lodge caging

BSI’s Chris Esteves watches Ace Hardware’s Sid Quan go up for an uncontested layup during the second quarter of their game in the Emon Lodge/IT&E caging last Sunday at the Civic Center Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ace Hardware and GPPC joined the early winners list in the 2016 Emon Lodge No. 179 Brotherhood/IT&E Basketball League after downing separate foes last Sunday at the Civic Center Basketball Court.

GPPC edged 360 Restaurant in the first morning game, 74-68, while Ace Hardware dominated BSI in the second match, 71-58. The two games in the afternoon were rained-out, making GPPC and Ace Hardware only the third and fourth squads in the 11-team field to enter the win column. Mobil/JP World and Shirley’s Coffee Shop were the first two teams to notch victories in the league after defeating MJD Enterprises, 94-74, and Armatech, 76-66, respectively, in the opening week last Jan. 3.

Ace Hardware prevailed in its debut match after getting off to a good start against BSI, one of the two teams sponsored by Best Sunshine International, Ltd.. Ace Hardware built a baker’s dozen lead, 25-12, thanks to Jethro Cruz’s 8 straight points off two triples and a layup midway in the opening quarter. Five other Ace Hardware players hit the board in the first frame to dictate the tempo of the game against the sluggish BSI crew, which was held to three field goals.

BSI picked up its scoring in the second canto to move within 9 at the break, 30-39, but Ace Hardware regained the double-digit advantage in the third, 56-46, after playing another balance offense. Ace Hardware kept going in the fourth to hand BSI a debut loss.

Sid Quan led Ace Hardware’s win with his 20 points, while Cruz and Don Brennan contributed 16 and 12, respectively. Prince Factor paced BSI with his 20 markers.

In the first game, GPPC rode on Alex Ocampo and Randy Mungcal’s hot hands in the first half to gain control of the match and leaned on Gerald Laguindam after the halftime break to withstand 360’s rally.

GPPC opened a 42-32 advantage after the first half as Ocampo fired 18 of his 27 points in the opening 20 minutes of play and Mungcal added 14. GPPC then squandered the double-digit advantage in the second half, but still took the win with Laguindam stepping up and scoring 12 of his 16 markers in the last 20 minutes of the match.

First Game
GPPC 74— Ocampo 27, Laguindam 16, Mungcal 16, R. Tagle 5, Corpuz 2, Norial 2, M. Tagle 2, Barron 2.

360 68 — Viray 18, Ashburn 18, Hernandez 10, Cabanas 8, Agbanlog 6, Gatdula 4, Pasnor 4.

Scoring by quarters: 14-19, 42-32, 55-51, 74-68.

Second Game
Ace Hardware 71—Quan 20, Cruz 16, Brennan 12, Camacho 7, Hammond 6, Chariton 5, Younis 5.

BSI 58 — Factor 20, Esteves 16, Colon 10, Miranda 7, Oyola 3, Enriquez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-12, 39-30, 56-46, 71-58.