Cabalen, SIP win debuts in UFO Docomo Cup

Cabalen/Wings Travel and Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense triumphed in their debuts in the UFO Inter-Organization Youth and Masters Basketball Docomo Pacific Cup 2011 after posting contrasting wins last Sunday at the TSL Sports Complex.

In the masters division, defending champion Cabalen crushed VisMinda/DA Doctors, 90-60, while in the youth game, SIP slipped past the Jets, 80-73. In the opening match (youth division) for the Docomo Cup at the Civic Center Basketball Court, MDX outgunned Samahang Laguna, 79-51.

Cabalen, which won last year’s masters title against MAFEA, led from start to finish and broke the game wide open in the third period. Tony Diaz and Edsel Mendoza teamed up in the big win, firing 26 and 21 points, respectively.

The duo scored Cabalen’s first 10 points in the third quarter to turn a 34-26 lead to a huge 66-44 advantage. Diaz went on to finish with 11 markers in the third period, while Mendoza added nine.

Jun Abedes had 20 markers for VisMinda’s losing cause.

In the second youth game, SIP played better in the second half for a come-from-behind win over the Jets.

The Jets zoomed their lead to as much as 16 in the first half, 38-22, but failed to hang on to the driver’s seat in the second, as Nevin Salem, Roman Aranda and Bryle Alegre joined forces in SIP’s recovery.

SIP outscored the Jets in the third, 26-18, cutting the 26-40 halftime deficit to just six, 52-58, with a quarter to go. Aranda and Alegre had six points apiece in the third quarter comeback.

Then SIP continued to work its way back into the game in the fourth canto and this time Salem was at the forefront of their attack. He had nine points in the payoff mark, making crucial free throws that gave SIP cushion in the homestretch.

In the league opener, MDX limited Samahang Laguna to two field goals in the first quarter to cruise to a win.

With only Anky Manalili and Reynald Cabaltica making it to the scoreboard for Samahang Laguna in the opening period, MDX posted a 21-5 lead after 10 minutes of play. MDX stretched it to a 22 point advantage at the break, 41-18, as it still outscored Samahang Laguna in the second canto, 20-13. Then after three periods, MDX almost doubled Samahang Laguna’s output for a 58-31 margin.

Matt Duenas and Shane Metran paced MDX with 15 points apiece and their six other teammates canned at least two field goals apiece for their 28-point victory.

MDX 79 – Duenas 15, Metran 15, Devero 8, Maranan 8, Castro 7, Feria 6, Ano 5, Vertudez 3, Francisco 1.

Samahang Laguna 51 – Gagaring 15, Manalili 10, Madreo 7, Cabaltica 7, Aldan 4, G. Macahito 3, F. Macahito 2, Habijan 1.

Scoring by quarters: 21-5, 41-18, 68-31, 79-51.

Cabalen/Wings Travel 90 –Diaz 26, Mendoza 21, Cruz 9, Yalung 6, Macoto 6, Palacios 4, Santos 4, Rebuyon 4, Morales 2, Verano 2.

VisMinda/DA Doctors 60 – Abedes 20, Lizama 12, Palacios 10, Suda 4, Manipon 4, Ansan 3, Alejandro 2, Garcia 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-13, 34-26, 65-44, 90-60.

SIP 80 – Ni. Salem 18, Alegre 16, Aranda 8, Palacios 6, Cenir 6, Darag 4, Ne. Salem 4, Saturno 4, DL Guerrero 3, De Guzman 2.

Jets 73 – Hossain 21, Manglona 13, Sambile 5, De Leon 5, Webb 5, Benavente 5, Pensa 4, Duenas 4, Cadiang 2, DL Guerrero 2, Caro.

Scoring by quarters: 10-15, 26-40, 52-58, 80-73.