Fastbreakers, Team Pogi triumph

The Fastbreakers prevailed over Banahaw Restaurant in the battle of undefeated squads, while Team Pogi topped AD-31 as the regular season games in the 2012 DLX/DL JOS Inter-Color Basketball League resumed last Saturday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

The Fastbreakers outclassed Banahaw Restaurant in the nightcap, 81-72, to improve to a 4-0 record and keep the lead in Bracket B. Banahaw dropped to a 2-1 slate. In the Bracket A match, Team Pogi downed AD-31, 82-70, for its second win in three games. AD-31 fell to a 1-3 card.

The trio of Jack Aranda, Niko Salem, and Melvin Cadiang made life difficult for Banahaw Restaurant, as they combined for 63 big points. Aranda nailed a game-high 27 points, including 15 from downtown, while Salem and Cadiang added 21 and 15, respectively.

The Fastbreakers led from start to finish and was only threatened in the third period when its nine-point halftime lead was trimmed to three, 49-62. Julius Tabamo brought Banahaw back in the game in the third, unloading eight of his 17 points in that period. After being outscored in the first two quarters, 14-21, 17-19, Banahaw outgunned the Fastbreakers in the third, 18-13.

However, the Fastbreakers kept the driver’s seat in the fourth behind the 10 and 8 points of Salem and Aranda, respectively. Cadiang chipped in 5 in the payoff canto.

In the curtain-raiser, Team Pogi hit timely treys in the third and escaped with fastbreak layups in the fourth quarter to beat AD-31.

The AD-31 and Team Pogi tiff was pretty even with the match tied after the first, 15-all, and the latter ahead by only three at the break, 32-29.

Then at the start of the second half, there was a seesaw battle with Team Pogi managing to stay in front, 52-49, after scoring 12 of its last 14 points from beyond the arc.

It was still a close game in the fourth period and Team Pogi was only on top by 4 points, 73-69, entering the final 2:30 minutes of the match before Jason Bahillo completed a 3-point fastbreak play and Harold Aranda hit back-to-back uncontested layups to close the deal, 79-69.

Harold Aranda paced Team Pogi with 14 points, while Erlan Lansang and Jeff Bahillo contributed 13 and 12, respectively, and Jason Bahillo made 10 for a balance scoring. Rod Sacramento and Lester Vertudez logged 18 each for AD-31, while Baldo Lavarias also scored double figures (13), but was held to one field goal in the fourth period.
Meanwhile, Friday’s games were rained-out and will be rescheduled on a later date.

Team Pogi 82 – H. Aranda 14, Lansang 13, Je. Bahillo 12, Ja. Bahillo 10, Alegre 9, Chan 8, Sula 6, Raquero 4. Gallardo 2, Aglipay 2.

AD-31 70 – Sacramento 18, Vertudez 18, Lavarias 13, Cariano 9, Tenorio 5, Sablan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 15-15, 32-29, 52-49, 82-70.

Fastbreakers 81 – Aranda 27, Salem 21, Cadiang 15, De Leon 6, Palacios 6, Saturno 4.

Banahaw Restaurant 72 – Saplan 18, Tabamo 17, Lansang 16, Javier 10, Pacson 4, Zapata 2, Tuwon 1.

Scoring by quarters: 21-14, 40-31, 53-49, 81-72.