MIGS takes lead; Century recovers

MIGS claimed the early lead, while Century Insurance bounced back in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League after routing their foes Saturday night at the CIC Center Basketball Court in Garapan.

Century Insurance walloped San Miguel Light, 100-80, to recover from its opening day loss to AON Insurance, 87-103, while MIGS had another blowout win, whipping Diamond Auto Care, 113-83. MIGS demolished San Miguel Light, 114-77, in its first game.

Century Insurance controlled the game from the opening tip and this time hung on to the lead until the final buzzer to improve to a 1-1 record. Century was also in the driver’s seat in the first half against AON Insurance, but collapsed in the second to lose its debut.

Dennis Vinas and William Opone led Century’s good start, knocking down eight points apiece to give their team a 24-19 lead at the end of the first period.

Century increased the lead to 14 at halftime, as Luis Abuel found his marks, making two triples and scoring 10 markers.

Abuel played even better in the third period, nailing three more triples and scoring 15 points to give Century a 17-point lead, 79-62, entering the final canto.

With a big lead, Century relaxed a bit in the fourth period, but San Miguel failed to capitalize on the former’s complacency to drop to a 0-2 record.

Abuel top-scored for Century with his 29 points, while Vinas and Opone added 14 and 12 markers, respectively.

Leo Itaas led San Miguel, firing 24 markers.

In the second game, MIGS’ dynamic duo of Bonbon Cadagat and Sonny Lerio was unstoppable anew, exploding for 32 and 27 points, respectively, in their 30-point win over Diamond.

Lerio also had 27 points in their first win against San Miguel, while Cadagat debuted in the league with 23 points.

In his second game, Cadagat made his presence felt early, drilling 11 first-quarter points to put MIGS in the lead after that period, 24-16.

Cadagat slowed down a bit in the second, making only five points, but Kae Bernardo was there, scoring nine and finishing with 15 first-half points.

The first half ended with Diamond still in contention, trailing by only 10, 43-53, as Ronald Delos Reyes kept his team afloat, nailing 11 markers in the second quarter.

But Diamond failed to neutralize the MIGS trio of Cadagat, Lerio, and Bernardo, who combined for 22 of their team’s 30 points in the third quarter.

The trio gave MIGS an 83-63 lead, entering the final canto and the league-leading team was never threatened from thereon.

Lerio and Cadagat put the finishing touches on MIGS dominance of Diamond Auto Care, scoring 12 and 10 markers, respectively, in the fourth period.

MIGS and Diamond had a shootout from downtown with the former prevailing, connecting on 11 triples against the latter’s seven.

Cadagat had six triples, while Lerio made three.

Bernardo had a double-double for MIGS, finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Cadagat also had a double-double, as he recorded 12 assists.

Century 100 – Abuel 29, Vinas 14, Opone 12, Marasigan 9, Palero 9, Joyner 9, Gapor 7, Jinang 4, Gatdula 4, Maliwanag 2.

San Miguel Light 80 – Itaas 24, Garon 15, Lauron 14, Lansang 8, Sarmiento , Geli 4, Ritual 3, Reyes 2, Obnimaga 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-15, 51-37, 79-62, 100-80.

MIGS 113 – Cadagat 32, Lerio 27, Bernardo 23, Moises 13, Basila 11,Capalad 4, Hugos 2,

Diamond Auto Care 83 – Delos Reyes 20, Esdrelon 15, Aquino 12, Ranola 11, D. Barbo 8, Bicera 6, Guiab 4, Talania 2, G. Barbo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-16, 53-43, 83-62, 113-83.