Maplas gets first win in UFO caging

Maplas’ Randy Mungcal, right, drives and draws a foul on Cavite’s Dan Barcinas during the fourth quarter of their game in the UFO caging last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Maplas/Akap Pinoy notched its first victory in the 2016 UFO/IT&E Inter-Organizational Basketball League after pounding Cavite, 97-71, last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Maplas, which dropped its first two assignments, had a strong finish against Cavite en route to the 26-point winning margin.

Cavite was just facing a manageable 13-point deficit, 59-72, with 7:39 left in the fourth quarter, but fell apart in the end when it went scoreless for nearly six minutes. Maplas, on the other hand, drew 10 of its 14 straight points from Randy Mungcal in the team’s rally to put the game away.

Preston Basa broke Cavite’s silence with a triple at the 1:49 mark and knocked in the team’s last four baskets—all from beyond the arc—in a losing effort. Before regaining his shooting form, Basa muffed at least six 3-point attempts in Cavite’s drought, while Maplas had an easier time making baskets to clinch the win early.

Ken Viray paced Maplas with his 30 points, while Mungcal had 25 markers in her first game in the league.

Basa led Cavite (2-2) with his 31 points, while Dan Barcinas chipped in 17.

Meanwhile, Stephen’s Pawnshop/NMBA also earned a double-digit win over PC Bargain/Visminda in the second game.

Stephen’s Pawnshop had a barrage of triples to get its second victory in four games. It drained seven treys in the first period to take a 28-13 advantage. James Abuy buried three triples, while Michael Espinosa also had three shots from downtown and they came in succession, while Taj Van Buren recorded the other one.

Stephen’s Pawnshop went on to hit 14 triples against only five from PC Bargain (2-2).

Abuy finished with 21 points, the same output Arnold Arellano registered for Stephen’s Pawnshop, as the latter waxed hot in the second half to keep the team’s safe distance. Espinosa also finished in twin digits with his 14 points, while Van Buren and Jorge De Guzman contributed 13 each. James Villacrusis top-scored for PC Bargain with his 27 markers.

First Game
Stephen’s Pawnshop 99 — Abuy 21, Arellano 21, Espinosa 14, Van Buren 13, De Guzman 13, Aranda 8, Aquino 6, Tolentino 1.

PC Bargain 80 — Ja. Villacrusis 27, Alegre 15, Jo. Villacrusis 14, Reyes 10, Alano 4, Manibusan 3, Munoz 2, Legaspi 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-13, 49-39, 68-56, 99-80.

Second Game
Maplas 97 — Viray 30, Mungcal 25, Fernando 15, Usi 8, Joson 8, Rivera 6, Verano 4, Aniciete 1.

Cavite 71 — Basa 31, Barcinas 17, Garcia 6, Renguul 6, Palacios 4, Laguindam 3, Barrozo 2, Quemado 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-20, 46-37, 61-51, 97-71.