AON, MIGS win opening games

AON Insurance and MIGS recorded contrasting wins in the opening day of the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League Sunday at the CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan.

A second half surge lifted AON to a come-from-behind 103-87 win over Century Insurance, while MIGS dominated Pacific Trading Co. from start to finish to cruise to a 114-77 triumph.

Century Insurance was off to a good start with Larry Palero and Wowie Abuel anchoring their team’s attack in the first quarter, which ended with Century ahead by nine, 24-15.

AON began its uphill climb in the second quarter, as Jon Lim exploded for 12 points off the bench to cut the lead to four at halftime, 34-38.

That was the last time Century Insurance had control of the game, as a 36-20 scoring run put AON in the driver’s seat at the end of the third period, 70-58.

Leo Apelo led AON’s third-quarter scoring spree, firing 10 points. Mike Eclevia and Ray Santos provided support to Apelo, adding six markers apiece.

AON capped its comeback with another 30-point plus output in the final quarter, outscoring Century, 34-29.

The Emir Abuan-coached AON is composed of several players from the Southern Sonics. The young crew of the Sonics was complemented by veterans Leo Factor, Jorge De Guzman, and Marlon De Dios.

Lim top-scored for AON with 20 points, while Eclevia and Apelo contributed 16 markers apiece. Factor and De Dios chipped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Dennis Vinas and Abuel paced Century, nailing 15 points apiece, but they combined for only three points in the crucial third period. Palero finished with 14, but was limited to only two field goals in the second half and went only 4-for-10 from the free-throw line. Jawn Joyner also scored 14, 10 in the second half, but these were not enough to prevent Century from collapsing.

In the second game, MIGS controlled the match from the opening tiff until the final buzzer to clobber PTC.

Sonny Lerio and Bonbon Cadagat teamed up in MIGS’ explosive start, combining for 17 points to give their team a 32-19 lead.

MIGS’s dynamic duo was unstoppable in the next three quarters en route to a 37-point blowout win over PTC.

Lerio finished with 27 points, while Cadagat had 23. Kae Bernardo was the other double figure scorer for MIGS, adding 12, and the winning squad drew contributions from nine other players.

Ryan Sanciangco led PTC with 27 points, while Leo Itaas fired 19.

First Game

AON Insurance 103 – Lim 20, Apelo 16, Eclevia 16, Factor 13, De Dioz 11, Santos 8, Bahillo 7, Mendoza 5, De Guzman 4, Capuyon3.

Century 87 – Vinas 15, Abuel 15, L. Palero 14, Joyner 14, Marasigan 9, Gapor 8, Opone 6, Jinang 5, R. Palero 1

Scoring by quarters: 15-24, 34-38, 70-58, 102-87.

Second Game

MIGS 114 – Lerio 27, Cadagat 23, Bernardo 12, Capalad 9, Pantaleon 8, Diyco 8, Moises 6, Doronilla 6, Hugos 5, Tamayo 4, Banatasa 2.

PTC 77 – Sanciangco 27, Itaas 19, Reyes 6, Cayetano 6, Abenoja 5, Lauron 4, Ritual 4, Seli 2, Lansang 2, Maglaya 2.

Scoring by quarters: 32-19, 60-32, 80-51, 114-77.