Samuel leads; 3 teams tied for second

Samuel’s Vhoie Francia unloads a jumper during the first half of their game against Daniel in the Genesis Cup last week at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Samuel stayed on top of the 5th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League, while Gideon, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel are in a three-way logjam for second place as they won their matches last week at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Samuel pulled off a 60-55 victory over Daniel (0-4) in last Thursday’s second match for a 4-0 record, while Gideon had a similar close win against Isaiah, 65-61, in the curtain-raiser to improve to a 3-1 mark. Ezekiel and Jeremiah share Gideon’s 3-1 slate after beating Joshua, 69-62, and Caleb, 80-52, respectively, last Tuesday.

Jeremiah easily took its third win after breaking away from Caleb in the first half, 41-19. Michael Cabanas led Jeremiah’s rout of Caleb, as he scored 35 points. Norman Vergara and Isagani Cortez backed up Cabanas, adding 13 and 10 points.

Russel Dequito had 14 to pace Caleb, which dropped to an even 2-2 record.

In the first game last Tuesday, Dan Toribio and Joboy Samonte hit double figures for Ezekiel with the former recording 19 and the latter chipping in 14 to lift Ezekiel to its third victory. Nathaniel Eugenio had only 8 points, but drilled the team’s last 6 to seal the win.

Abbi Sandig and Alain Nunez had 14 each for Joshua, which absorbed its third loss in four games.

In last Thursday’s second tiff, Samuel had six players making at least 6 points apiece to offset the game-high 21 markers of Daniel’s Ronnie Guevarra.

Mark Robles had 12 for Samuel, Walter Brillo added 10, and Jerome Reyes, Van Acosta, and Mark Badal contributed 8 apiece. Bernardo Lopez and Vhoie Francia combined for 12, while Darwin Gonzales completed the team’s box scores with his 4 markers.

In the first game, Allan Chavez knocked in 21 points, including 3 of Gideon’s last 4 markers to hand his squad the 4-point victory. Joseph Gatdula had only 7, but 3 of them came in the homestretch, as Gideon handed Isaiah its fourth loss in as many matches.

THURSDAY
First Game
Gideon 65 — Chavez 21, Darag 11, De Leon 9, Sacdalan 9, Gatdula 7, Dalusung 6, Ramirez 2.
Isaiah 61 — Huddleston 22, Gragasin 19, Manalang 10, David 6, Santos 4.
Scoring by halves: 32-36, 65-61.

Second Game
Samuel 60 — Robles 12, Brillo 10, Badal 8, Acosta 8, Reyes 8, Lopez 6, Francia 6, Gonzales 4.
Daniel 55 — Guevarra 21, Borja 10, Ibajan 9, Ocanada 6, Ibanez 3, Morales 2, Calibo 2, Abe 2.
Scoring by halves: 26-26, 60-55.

TUESDAY
First Game
Ezekiel 69 — Toribio 19, Samonte 14, Eugenio 8, Teregeyo 7, Marilla 6, Formales 5, Bacani 3.
Joshua 62 — Nunez 14, Sandig 14, Daluyen 12, Nunag 10, Paclibar 7, Omampo 4, Puno 2.
Scoring by halves: 28-20, 69-62.

Second Game
Jeremiah 80 — Cabanas 35, Vergara 13, Cortes 10, Fatialofa 9, Buniag 7, Bonquin 2.
Caleb 52 — Dequito 14, Castro 12, Lansangan 9, Joson 8, Gabaldon 5, Gozon 4.
Scoring by halves: 41-19, 80-52.