Gwap Gang, Docomo prevail in MDX caging

Gwap Gang?s Shane Diaz drives to the baseline against San Antonio?s Ezra Caro during the second quarter of their game in the MDX caging last Wednesday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

Gwap Gang swept its two games this week, while Docomo Pacific pulled off an overtime win in the 2014 MDX Amateur Radio Club Basketball League.
Gwap Gang walloped Armatech, 78-59, in the lone game played last Monday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court and returned to the same venue last Wednesday night to beat San Antonio, 73-69. In the other match last Wednesday, Docomo thwarted the Pelicans in overtime, 105-98.

Cecilio Bisana and Daniel Camacho joined forces in the extra five minutes of play to lift Docomo to the 7-point win. Bisana scored 8 points in overtime, including two of Docomo’s last three field goals, while the youthful Camacho chipped in 7 markers. Rolly Paraiso and Juan Camacho also scored in the extension, making one field each.

Only Leo Galarse nailed more than one field goal for the Pelicans in overtime, as Wens Namelo was limited to a layup and Luizi Reyes drilled only a triple. Galarse, who made the game-tying free throw in the fourth period before running out of time to pull up for the go-ahead shot in regulation, had 7 markers in overtime. Trevor Ogumoro and Don Brennan, who logged 21 and 12 markers, respectively, after the regulation, were quiet in the extension.

The match was extended, as Docomo and the Pelicans engaged in a seesaw battle. Docomo got off to a strong start and led at 27-14, but the Pelicans bounced back with a 28-poiint output in the third to grab the upper hand at the break, 32-21. Docomo then regained the upper hand in the third, 66-65, and the match remained tight in the fourth.

Daniel Camacho paced Docomo with his 26 points, while James Villacrusis added 21. Juan Camacho contributed 17, while Bisana and Paraiso had 16 and 11, respectively. Galarse led all scorers with his 31 markers.

Meanwhile, Gwap Gang played better in the second half en route to the 19-point win over Armatech.

Ahead by only a deuce at halftime, 31-29, Gwap Gang erupted for 35 points in the third period to open a 56-38 lead. Rodney Sacramento anchored the breakaway, scoring 14 of his 23 points in the pivotal third, while his four other teammates also helped out in the cause.

Armatech fell apart in the third after a lackluster offense, as only Bruce Berline tallied more than 2 points in that frame off an and-1 play and another 2-point field goal. Armatech had only two other players scoring in the third Martin Moreno and Elmer Pineda held to one field goal each.

Armatech picked up its scoring a bit in the final frame, but it was still no match against the younger and faster crew of Gwap Gang.

MONDAY
Gwap 78 – Sacramento 23, Diaz 21, Vertudez 9, Ito 9, Yap 7, Fitial 3.
Armatech 59 – Berline 21, Montano 14, Abuy 10, Martin 8, Crisostomo 4, Pineda 2.
Scoring by quarters: 13-17, 31-29, 56-38, 78-59.

WEDNESDAY
Docomo Pacific 105 – D. Camacho 26, Villacrusis 21, J. Camacho 17, Bisana 16, Paraiso 11, Diaz 9, Sanciangco 2.

Pelicans 98 – Galarse 31, Ogumoro 21, Reyes 21, Brennan 12, Namelo 6.
Scoring by quarters: 27-14, 31-32, 66-65, 86-86, 105-98.