Rollers 1, Ol’Aces Extreme 2 clobber foes

Rollers 2’s Jeremy Agulto, center, has nowhere to go against the defense of Rollers 1’s Angelo Factor, left, and A.J. Hudkins during the second half of their boys U16 division game in the TanHoldings holiday caging yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Ol’Aces Extreme 2 and Rollers 1 proved to be too much for their respective opponents as shown in the lopsided victories they posted during the opening of the 2016 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

In the first game in the boys U16 division, the Ol’Aces Extreme 2 crushed the 670 Thunders, 85-15, while in the second match in the same age group, Rollers 1 eased past Rollers 2, 72-32.

Rollers 1 pulled away at the halfway mark of the second half, turning an 8-point lead (38-28) to a 40-point winning margin, as Jude Tengco and Emmanuel Cobacha alternately hit baskets for the victorious squad. Cobacha knocked in 12 of his 16 points in the breakaway, while Tengco had 10 of his 13 markers in that run.

Earlier in the first half, it was Jelbert Quitugua who stood out for Rollers 1, as he made 11 of his 13 points in the opening 20 minutes of play. Quitugua, Tengco, and Cobacha could have scored more, but Rollers 1 decided to use its second stringers in the homestretch as the victory was already secured. Six other Rollers 1 players also contributed to the team’s strong offense, while only Patrick Duenas broke into double figures for Rollers 2 with his 10 markers.

In the first game, the Ol’Aces Extreme 2 had the game in the bag right at the end of the first half as it enjoyed a 40-11 halftime advantage.

Troy Ngirarois nearly outgunned the entire 670 Thunders crew in the first half after he knocked in 10 points. Coby Santos, Dean Blake, and John Ichihara added 8 points apiece to give the Ol’Aces Extreme 2 a commanding 29-point lead.

It was still an Ol’Aces Extreme 2 show in the second half, as 670 Thunders’ offense turned from bad into worse with the former making only 4 points off Parsley Linaogo’s two field goals.

Blake top-scored for the Ol’Aces Extreme 2 with his 18 points, while Ichihara and Santos also finished in twin digits with 16 and 12, respectively. Only Linaogo made more than one field goal for the hapless 670 Thunders.

Meanwhile, four more games—two each in the women’s division and men’s under 25 age group—were played in the opening day of the Tan Holdings holiday caging.

First Game
Ol’Aces 85 — Blake 18, Ichihara 16, Santos 12, Ngirarois 10, Deleon Guerrero 7, Lizama 7, Reyes 7, Quitugua 4, Johnny 3.

670 Thunders 15 — Linaogo 4, Caruana 3, Ruiz 2, Bravo 2, Litusquen 2, Favor.

Scoring by halves: 40-11, 85-15.

Second Game
Rollers 1 72 — Cobacha 16, Quitugua 13, Tengco 13, Hudkins 6, Factor 6, Richardson 4, Valencia 4, Mendiola 4, Dela Cruz 4.

Rollers 2 32 — Duenas 10, Fabia 8, Agulto 6, Fitial 4, Kim 4.