Kagman, Dream Team boost semis bids

Kagman Risers and Dream Team earned contrasting wins to strengthen their semis chances in the

2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic last Friday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Kagman ripped Sun Palace Hotel in the first boys U19 game, 72-34, while Dream Team pulled off a 73-67 win over Rollers 2 in the nightcap to remain at the top half of the team standings in the eight-squad field.

Only the Top 4 teams after the single-round robin elimination will advance to playoff round. Dream Team is currently in second place with its 4-1 record behind the unbeaten Rollers 1 (5-0), while Kagman is in a tie for third to fifth place with the Ol’Aces and Sonics, holding a 3-2 card. Rollers 2 (2-3), Sun Palace (0-5), and Rollers 3 (0-5) complete the standings.

Jason Lampkin top-scored in Kagman’s rout of Sun Palace with his 17 points, while Jesse Santos and Allen Yu backed him up, adding 15 and 10, respectively.

Lampkin and company dominated Sun Palace in the second half after the latter kept Kagman within striking distance in the first 20 minutes of place. Kagman was just ahead by 6 points at the break, 27-21, before the trio of Lampkin, Santos, and Yu teamed up in the second-half breakaway.

In the other U19 tiff, Dream Team squandered a double-digit lead in the first half, but hung on tight in the closing minutes of the final frame to beat Rollers 2.

Kagman Risers’ Allen Yu goes for an up and under shot against a Dream Team defender during an earlier game in the 2014 Tan Holdings Basketball Classic at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. Dream Team and Kagman won their respective U19 games last Friday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Dream Team enjoyed a 12-point spread at halftime, 36-24, thanks to Ignacio Borja’s 12 first-half points. However, the deficit was trimmed to single digit in the second half as Rollers 3 began to hit shots from downtown.

Rollers 2 connected seven baskets from beyond the arc in the second half, but failed to complete the come-from-behind win, as Shane Deleon Guerrero and Dixon Kwon came to Dream Team’s rescue. The duo combined for Dream Team’s last 7 points and made important free throws in the homestretch to foil Rollers 2’s bid.

Borja paced Dream Team with his 22 markers, while Deleon Guerrero and Kwon also finished in twin digits, contributing 17 and 13, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the lone women’s division game last Friday, Armatech defeated Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, 40-22, to extend its win streak to seven.

Rachel Abrams suited up for Armatech after missing their Thursday’s match against Shirley’s Coffee Shop and led her team with her 12 points. Irish Pagarao, Jeralyn Castillo, and Chevy Kate Alipio combined for 25 more points to outgun the entire Fiesta crew.

First Game

Kagman 72–Lampkin 17, Je. Santos 15, Yu 10, Jo. Santos 6, Palino 4, Prado 4, Paran 4, Lizama 4, Li 4.

Sun Palace 34–Omengkar 9, Ocaya 6, Pamintuan 6, Venezuela 5, Ringor 2.

Scoring by halves: 27-21, 72-34.

Second Game

Armatech 40–Abrams 12, Pagarao 9, Alipio 8, Castillo 8, Pangilinan 2, Alferos 1.

Fiesta 22–Pena 10, Francisco 8, Reyes 2, Lee 2.

Scoring by halves: 16-11, 40-22.

Third Game

Dream Team 73–I. Borja 22, S. Deleon Guerrero 17, Kwon 13, Castro 6, Darag 5, Sanchez 4, Francisco 3.

Rollers 2 67–Alipio 20, Cruz 16, Dancoe 15, Rios 6, Deocares 4, Cudia 2, Santos 2.

Scoring by halves: 36-24, 73-67.