FCC basketball league kicks off with a bang

The Filipino Community Church 2nd Inter-Color Basketball League Genesis Invitational Cup kicked off with a bang Monday night with 10 teams vying for supremacy.

One thing for sure, a new champion will be crowned at the end of the season, as defending champion Ezekiel is not competing.

Among the teams looking to rise to the top are first season runner-up Jeremiah, Isaiah, Gideon, Caleb, Daniel, Joshua, Elijah, Nehemiah, Samuel, and Hosiah.

The teams wowed the crowd in the opening ceremony, parading in the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium and sporting their uniforms and muses.

Team Caleb, dressed in their red uniforms with black trimmings, won the Best in Uniform contest, while Daniel muses Brook and Bruce Ong were named Miss Little Genesis.

Also present during the ceremony were Calvary International Mission pastors Hiong Kok Pang, Nazario Angeles, Ramir Trinidad, and Noel Puno, as well as Philippine Consul General Wilfredo Maximo, and longtime basketball enthusiast Abner Venus.

Having the honors of opening the season were Daniel and Joshua, with Daniel sending a strong statement to other teams with an 80-62 victory.

Daniel got off to a rocket start as standouts Elmer Esdrelon and Rick Alegre spearheaded a big run that resulted in a 27-9 lead after the first quarter of play.

Joshua managed to close the gap by outscoring the opposition, 19-14, in the second quarter, but still trailed by double digits, 28-41, at the break.

Daniel then picked up the pace at the start of the second half, with Alegre and Jun Tabora combining for 12 points to help the team head into the final period with a 15-point edge, 59-44.

Joshua tried to rally in hopes of a Daniel collapse, but that was not the case as Daniel wound up stretching the lead to close strong.

Alegre led Daniel with 19 points, while Esdrelon and Dennis Vinas contributed 14 and 10 points.

Francis Rebuyon and Bing Marasigan led Joshua with 11 points apiece, while Gil Gapor and Mike Umali added 10 points apiece.

In the second game, Jeremiah broke into turbo mode in the second half and turned what was a tightly fought bout in to an 83-68 victory over Isaiah.

It was a tough battle in the opening half as Jeremiah led 19-11 and 35-28 after the first two periods.

The team, however, got a big boost from Rowel Aranda, Jonathan Lim, and Kevin Cequena in the third period as the three combined for 25 of the team’s 27 points. Isaiah was also limited to just 12 points, and as a result, Jeremiah went into the final quarter ahead by 22 points, 62-40.

Isaiah put up a strong attack in the last 10 minutes courtesy of the guns of Manalo Manalo, Danny Dayrit, and Meljun Capalad, but the lead was just too much to overcome.

Aranda finished with a game-high 27 points to lead Jeremiah, while Cequena and Lim finished with 20 and 12 points.

Dayrit led Isaiah with 19 points, while Manalo and Capalad added 16 and 10 points.

First Game

Daniel 80 – R. Alegre 19, Esdrelon 14, Vinas 10, Abuy 8, Ruluked 8, Tabora 6, J. Ong 4, Puno 4, Basa 4, Lauron 2, Guiab 1.

Joshua 62 – Marasigan 11, Rebuyon 11, Gapor 10, Umali 10, Samson 7, Palero 7, Rapanut 6, Garcia 4.

Scoring by quarters: 27-9, 41-28, 59-44, 80-62.

Referees: Eric Artillaga and Gilbert Espinosa.

Second Game

Jeremiah 85 – Aranda 27, Cequena 20, Lim 12, Javier 7, Gamboa 6, Ajoste 5, J.L. Roman 2, Flores 2, J.C. Roman 2.

Isaiah 68 – Dayrit 19, Manalo 16, Aquino 15, Capalad 10, Vargas 5, Sacdalan 2, Dela Luya 1.

Scoring by quarters: 19-11, 35-28, 62-40, 83-68.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos.