MIGS dominates Aon Insurance

If the MIGS-AON Insurance tiff was a boxing bout, the former was the fighter armed with a lethal 1-2 punch and a solid jab knocking out a wobbling foe.

MIGS kept its record clean after a 106-83 demolition of AON Insurance in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League Thursday night at the CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan.

The backcourt duo of Bonbon Cadagat and Sonny Lerio continued to work wonders for MIGS, while center/forward Kae Bernardo had another solid game to give the team its third win in as many games.

Cadagat fired 31 points against AON Insurance for his second straight 30-point plus production. He had 32 markers in their 113-83 rout of Diamond Auto Care.

Besides his impressive offensive game, the cat-quick and hot-shooting guard’s playmaking skills and nose for the ball were notable as he dished out six assists and had five steals. Against Diamond Auto Care, Cadagat had 12 assists and six steals.

Lerio top-scored for MIGS with 33 points, making three triples and connecting on several daredevil drives causing him to kiss the ground a couple of times.

As if Lerio and Cadagat’s damage to AON’s defense was not enough, Bernardo was there and played a good supporting role to MIGS’ dynamic duo, posting another double-double.

Bernardo, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds against Diamond Auto Care last Saturday, was within his average against AON, nailing 18 points and grabbing 11 boards.

He held his ground against the match taller and heftier frontline of AON on the defensive end and used his quickness for another good offensive night.

The rest of the MIGS players watched Cadagat, Lerio, and Bernardo tore apart AON’s bid for an upset.

Actually, AON was very much in the game in the first half, trailing by only five at halftime, 40-35.

But after AON moved within three, 48-51, Lerio, Cadagat, and Bernardo anchored a 13-2 run midway in the third period to take a 64-50 advantage.

Lerio and Cadagat had 10 points apiece in MIGS’ 36 points in the third quarter. Cadagat also made several feeds to his teammates with Bernardo mostly on the receiving end of his drop passes. Bernardo added nine points in the crucial third period.

Cadagat and the rest of the much smaller crew of MIGS played pressure, defense rattling AON’s ball carriers and receivers. As it forced AON to commit errors, MIGS on many occasions converted those turnovers into points.

The third quarter ended with MIGS ahead by 16, 76-60. The lead never went down to 12 markers, but despite a big lead, the tireless crew of MIGS didn’t letup, preventing AON from setting up its half court offense and frustrating the Insurers’ big men in the paint.

MIGS had the win in the bag going into the last two minutes of the game as it led by 21, 97-76. But MIGS had to wait a little longer before getting its third win and AON had to prolong its agony, as second motions and a couple of technical fouls slowed the game down.

Despite a heated game, in the end both teams met at mid-court and shook hands.

AON absorbed back-to-back loses and dropped to a 1-2 record. Its lone win was against Century Insurance during the league’s opening game, 103-87.

Jon Lim paced AON with 28 points, while Marlon De Dios and Jason Bahillo chipped in 15 and 11 markers, which when combined were still less than Cadagat or Lerio’s outputs.

The 23-point victory against AON was MIGS third lopsided win in as many games. It debuted with a 114-77 thrashing of San Miguel Light and followed it up with a 30-point victory over Diamond Auto Care making MIGS the early favorite in the league.

MIGS 106 – Lerio 33, Cadagat 31, Bernardo 18, Moises 10, Capalad 6, Hugos 4, Pantaleon 3, Diyco 3

AON Insurance 83 – Lim 28, De Dios 15, Bahillo 11, Capuyon 6, Factor 6, De Guzman 5, Mendoza 3, Abuy 3, Apelo 2, Catalla 2, Eclevia 2, Pantola 1.

Scoring by quarters: 15-13, 40-35, 76-60, 106-83.