Blue Haus takes early lead

Blue Haus took the early lead in the 2015 Graphics Invitational Masters Basketball League after pounding Armatech, 88-72, last Wednesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Blue Haus’ Tony Diaz pulls up for a shot against Armatech’s Bong Malasarte during the third quarter of their game in the 2015 Graphics Invitational Masters Basketball League last Wednesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Blue Haus improved its record to 2-0 to lead Armatech (1-1), Saipan Warriors (1-1), Bammy’s Restaurant (1-1), KB Hite (1-), Boomers (0-1), and Slashers (0-1).

Five Blue Haus players finished in double figures as they dominated Armatech right from the get-go. Blue Haus led by a baker’s zone after the first period, 23-10, and never lost the twin-digit advantage in the remaining three quarters, outgunning Armatech from outside and making several fastbreak baskets all night.

Tony Diaz led Blue Haus with his 18 points, ending the first period with a triple to lift the team to a 13-point lead and then kicking off the second frame with another basket from downtown. By the end of the second canto, Blue Haus stretched its lead to 15, 45-30, as Diaz’s other teammates also began to contribute.

Blue Haus went on to pad its advantage to as much as 24 points in the fourth quarter, 79-54, before letting its guard down midway in the final canto, allowing Armatech to get garbage-time points.

Edwin Santos and Ernie Moises backed up Diaz as they chipped in 12 markers apiece, while Edsel Mendoza and Junar Guiab added 11 each. Matt Buenabajo, Roger Valencia, and Jun Factor completed Blue Haus’ scoring, tallying 6 markers apiece. Ferdie Tobias paced Armatech with his 19 points, while Bernard Montano had a quiet 11 markers. Rommel Bartolo also finished in double figures, but his 11 points came when the game was already decided.

Meanwhile, Bammy’s Restaurant recovered from its debut loss to Blue Haus after slipping past KB Hite, 82-76.

Down by 5 after three quarters, 57-62, Bammy’s saved the best for last, sizzling for 30 points in the fourth quarter to steal the victory from KB Hite.

Jun Tabora’s guns were blazing in the final frame, as he knocked in 17 points and outscored the entire KB Hite crew, which tallied only 14 markers. Tabora logged 7 straight points early in the fourth period to lead Bammy’s rally and capped off his strong finish by drilling 8 of the team’s last 9 markers.

Tabora had a game-high 32 points to lead all scorers, while Alex Ocampo contributed 14, including 9 consecutive points bridging the closing minutes of the third and the opening seconds of the fourth.

Randy Mungcal led KB Hite’s losing cause with his 18 points, but he was held to one field goal in the fourth quarter meltdown.

First Game
Bammy’s 82 – J. Tabora 32, Ocampo 17, De Guzman 7, Saplan 6, D. Tabora 5, Sampang 5, Alipio 4, Catalla 2, Zapata 1.

KB Hite 76 – Mungcal 18, Sison 15, Yalung 9, Montes 8, Verano 7, Duenas 6, Pineda 5, Demapan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 14-18, 42-41, 57-62, 82-76.

Second Game
Blue Haus 88 – Diaz 18, Santos 12, Moises 12, Mendoza 11, Guiab 11, Buenabajo 6, Valencia 6, Factor 6.

Armatech 72 – Tobias 19, Montano 11, Bartolo 11, Tolentino 7, Malasarte 6, Gabaldon 4, Abuy 4, Manalili 1.

Scoring by quarters: 23-10, 45-30, 67-51, 88-72.