Back-to-back wins for Laguna

Laguna/Twinkle/Erika’s clinched its second straight victory after pulling off a come-from-behind win over VisMinda/Civic Boys, 80-69, during the first game in the 2012 UFO Masters Budweiser Cup last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Laguna outscored VisMinda in the fourth quarter, 26-9, to improve to a 2-1 record for a share of second place with Bayani/LBT Appraisal.

Warren Villegas and Hae Jun Park teamed up in Laguna’s fourth-quarter juggernaut with the former making 7 of the team’s first 9 points in the fourth period and the latter also nailing seven straight markers in the closing minutes. Park had 11 points in the fourth quarter alone for a team-high 17, while Villegas drilled 8 of his 13 in the payoff period.

The duo’s scoring explosion in the fourth allowed Laguna to wipe out VisMinda’s 60-54 lead at the end of the third frame.

VisMinda lost the lead and eventually the game when it was held to only three field goals in the fourth quarter and was scoreless in the first three minutes of that canto. Bobby Geli’s game-high 29 points went down the drain, as VisMinda absorbed its second loss in three games.

Geli was the lone VisMinda player to score more than two points in the final quarter. He had 10 early points, lifting VisMinda to an 18-12 advantage. Geli slowed down in the second, but still nailed four points, while Sandy Quemado chipped in six to keep VisMinda in the lead at the break, 35-33.

Geli was back in the grove in the third canto, drilling 12 points to help VisMinda gain more distance against Laguna with still one full quarter to go.

However, in the fourth quarter, Laguna slowly closed the gap with Villegas scoring in streak early and Park finishing what the former started to complete the come-from-behind win.

In the second game, Bayani/LBT Appraisal routed MAFEA/CNMI.

After neck-and-neck first period, Bayani went on a decisive 21-8 scoring in the second canto to turn a slim 19-17 lead to a comfortable 40-25 halftime advantage. Bayani never looked back from thereon, as it continued to draw contributions from every player it fielded in the game in the second half.

Bayani had five players breaking into double figures, while three others logged at least six points apiece. Felix Palacios led the team with his 16 points, Jack Palacios added 14, Ed Cosino fired 13, and Tony Diaz and Alex Ocampo added 11 and 10, respectively.

Roger Paraiso top-scored for the winless MAFEA (0-4) with his 20 points, while Dionisio Malicden was the only one who provided help to the former, contributing 14.

Laguna/Twinkle/Erika’s 80 – Park 17, Villegas 13, Ebuen 10, Manipon 9, Salazar 8, Lansang 8, Pablo 7, Lopez 6.

VisMinda/Civic Boys 69 – Geli 29, Miguel 9, Bello 8, Quemado 8, Mangubat 4, Olfindo 4, Santos 4, De Belen 3.

Scoring by quarters: 12-18, 33-35, 54-60, 80-69.

Bayani/LBT Appraisal 89 – F. Palacios 16, J. Palacios 14, Cosino 13, Diaz 11, Ocampo 10, Bicera 8, Sahagun 6, Pineda 6, De La Torre 4.

MAFEA/CMI 59 – Paraiso 20, Malicden 14, Guirey 8, Factor 8, Sevilla 4, Imbo 3, Jastillana 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-17, 40-25, 66-45, 89-59.