Wag Kang Pabebe wins; Oh My J ahead

Wag Kang Pabebe secured its second win, while Oh My J enjoyed a comfortable lead as these two teams saw action in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League over the weekend at the Navy Hill court.

Wag Kang Pabebe played in the curtain-raiser last Sunday and eked out a 45-44 victory over Eh Di Wow, while Oh My J was way ahead of Purple Rain, 34-17, in their last Saturday match that was suspended after the first half due to the unplayable venue (no lights).

Christian Devero top-scored in Wag Kang Pabebe’s second victory in three games, but baskets from Brendon Talania and Ariel Abadilla in the closing minutes of the match lifted the team to the 1-point win. Talania, who missed the entire first half, drilled 5 of Wag Kang Pabebe’s last 7 points, while Abadilla knocked in the other 2 markers.

Purple Rain’s Rey Deleon Guerrero, right, taps out a pass intended for Oh My J’s Junar Guiab during the first half of their suspended game in the Blue Haus-IT&E caging last Saturday at the Navy Hill court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Without Talania, the team’s top scorer in the last two games, Wag Kang Pabebe faced a 17-21 deficit at the break. Lerio Pagarao powered Eh Di Wow to a 4-point advantage after the first 20 minutes of play, as he drilled 8 points in the opening half and won the exchange against Christian Devero, who kept Wag Kang Pabebe afloat with his 7 points.

Devero continued to carry the cudgels for Wag Kang Pabebe and drew some help from fellow starter Oscar Mina Jr. The duo combined for Wag Kang Pabebe’s first 10 points before Talania reported for the game to provide more scoring options for the team. Talania contributed 9 points, making his first basket in the match from downtown and later the go-ahead field goal to hand Eh Di Wow its fourth loss in as many games.

Meanwhile, Nate Mateo scored 12 points in the first half, as Oh My J doubled up Purple Rain in their suspended match last Saturday.

Four other Oh My J players contributed at least two baskets apiece to take the double-digit spread, heading into the last 20 minutes of the game, which will resume once all nine teams have completed four games.

Pending the results of its duel against Purple Rain, Oh My J holds a 1-1 record, the same mark Purple Rain has. Oh My J will shoot for win No. 2 when it takes on the unbeaten Makalaro Lang (3-0) tomorrow at 5:30pm.

Wag Kang Pabebe 45 – C. Devero 16, Talania 9, Mina 7, M. Devero 4, Woodson 4, Tolosa 3, Abadilla 2.

Eh Di Wow 44 – Pagarao 16, J. Reyes 8, Itaas 6, Santos 6, Cortes 4, Corpuz 2, A. Reyes 2.

Scoring by halves: 17-21, 45-44.