Feds ends NMSA win streak

The Feds’ Haejun Park tries to power his way past the defense of NMSA’s Mike Babauta during their game in the IT&E-DYS inter-government caging last Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

Gamboa and Apelo combined for 59 points, which is more than half of the Feds’ total output to snap NMSA’s five-game winning streak.

It was the second straight triumph for the Feds after suffering a 65-71 loss to Department of Community and Cultural Affairs last month and it tied NMSA on top of the standings with their similar 5-1 slates.

The Feds got off to a hot start with Apelo scoring 6 straight points for a 9-0 count. NMSA had a difficult time penetrating and scoring inside with the 6’9” Ken McCain patrolling the middle for the Feds. NMSA was held without a field goal for almost four minutes before Jacoby Winkfield ended the drought in the 6:32 mark of the opening period.

Apelo, on the other hand, continued with his hot shooting and sparked a 13-9 exchange to give the Feds its first taste of several double-digit leads.

NMSA, behind Winkfield and Peter Camacho, had a mini 13-6 spurt to trim the deficit to 4, 24-28, with 3:47 to go in the second. Apelo, however, cut short that scoring run with a cold-blooded 3-pointer that triggered another barrage of points for the Feds for a 44-30 spread at the turn.

It was cruise control for the Feds from thereon, as Gamboa and Juan Camacho alternated in the third to thwart every NMSA comeback try. Gamboa was a one-man scoring machine for the Feds with his game-high 39 points, while Apelo added 20, and Camacho chipped in 12 markers.

McCain only scored 8 markers but had a field day inside the paint with his 17 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 3 assists. Winkfield paced NMSA’s losing cause with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 block, while Peter Camacho finished with 12 markers, 8 boards, and 2 feeds.

Elias Rangamar and Teresa Sablan combined for 20 points while Mike Babauta, despite being held to 4 markers, grabbed a team-high 9 rebounds.

Earlier, Customs used a barrage of 3-pointers to pummel DCCA, 86-62, and improve its record to 4-2.

Customs tallied 10 3-pointers with Leo Galarse draining four and Don Brennan hitting three. Brennan ended the game with 21 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 4 steals, while Galarse tallied 17 markers, 4 caroms, and 4 feeds and stole the ball 3 times. Kelvin Fitial muscled his way inside the paint to add 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.

Perry Inos top-scored for DCCA with 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Tim Wesley had 12 markers, 8 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block.

First Game
Customs 86 – Brennan 21, Galarse 17, Fitial 17, Teregeyo 7, Cepeda 6, Saralu 6, L. Reyes 5, Sablan 3, Pangelinan 2.

DCCA 62 – Inos 17, Wesley 12, Pangelinan 9, L. Deleon Guerrero 8, Ito 6, Manabat 6, Jayson 4.

Scoring by quarters: 17-21, 47-38, 63-49, 86-62.

Second Game
Feds 87 – Gamboa 39, Apelo 20, Camacho 12, McCain 8, Deleon Guerrero 3, Ogarto 3, Paras 2.

NMSA 56 – Winkfield 13, Camacho 12, Rangamar 10, Sablan 10, Babauta 4, Camacho 4, Iginoef 3.

Scoring by quarters: 22-11, 44-30, 68-41, 87-56. (Jon Perez)