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Rollers, Sonics players stand out in U18 league
The Sonics’ Jester Kintaro blocks a shot from a Wong player during their semis game in the boys U15 division of the Diaz youth caging last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Kintaro also plays inn the U18 age group and leads the division in blocks. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Rollers and Sonics players topped four categories at the halfway mark of the U18 division of the Inaugural Frank M. Diaz Memorial Youth League.
In the scoring department, Rollers White’s Jethro Cruz is ahead of the field after averaging 18.25 points in four games where he totaled 73. Rollers Blue’s Aaron Ogumoro and Jun Alipio are ranked second and third after posting averages of 16.8 and 14.8 points per game. Ogumoro collected 84 points in five games, while Alipio recorded 74 in the same number of matches. Completing the scoring leaders are 670 Sonics’ Djay Ong (13.6 points in 5 games), Rollers Blue’s Christian Arceo (12 points in 5 games) and the Ol’Aces’ Greg Sablan (10.5 in 4 games).
In the rebound department, Ong is on top of three others, while his teammate Jester Kintaro and Ogumoro lead in the blocks and steals categories, respectively.
Ong’s 9 rebounds per game average in five matches (45 total) put him in a tie for first place with Kagman Riserz’s Khalid Islam. Sablan (8.5 rebounds in four games/34 total) is at second place ahead of 670 Sonics’ Mike Espinosa (8 per game/40 total), and Arceo (7.8 per game/39 total).
Kintaro is the lone player so far to register twin digits in blocks with his 12, living him with a 2.4 average in five games. The 670 Sonics center paces Sablan (1.5 average/6 total), Kagman’s Darion Jones (1.2 average/6 total), the Ol’Aces Napu Atalig (1/4 total), and Rollers Red’s Markel Toves (.75/3 total).
In the steals division, Ogumoro gained 24 in five games to average 4.8 per match and lead Kagman quarterback Andrew Palino, who averaged 3.6 as he got 18 in five games. Completing the Top 5 are the Ol’Aces Aiferson Atan (3.5 per game), Arceo (3), and Kagman’s Melvin Sakisat (2.8).
In the assists division, Palino leads the field, as he totaled 15 in five games for an average of 3.4 per match. Palino this time is in front of Ogumoro, who has a second-best 2.8 average, followed by the similar 2.25 averages of the Junior Sonics’ Renato Gaviola and Sablan, and the 1.8 of Ong.
