Coca-Cola/Subway, Best Deal/RNV rout opponents

Coca-Cola/Subway’s Bernard Estoque pulls up for a jumper and is fouled by Star Water’s Edward Cabiles during the third quarter of their game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Monday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Coca-Cola/Subway and Best Deal/RNV Constructions demolished their respective foes in the JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Monday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Best Deal/RNV crushed GPPC, 84-64, in a battle between two surging teams in first game, while Coca-Cola/Subway routed Star Water in the second match, 97-63.

Best Deal/RNV extended its winning run to four after a 0-3 start, while snapping GPPC’s three-game winning streak. Best Deal/RNV held GPPC to 7 points apiece in the first and third quarters for the double-digit victory.

Only Aba Tagle and Gary Norial scored in GPPC’s sluggish start, while Best Deal/RNV had seven players making it to the board in the first quarter for their 21-7 lead.

GPPC then brought the deficit down to 6 at the break, 32-38, behind the combined 17 points of Randy Mungcal and Alex Ocampo. However, GPPC fired blanks in the third quarter anew with Mungcal held to one field goal and Ocampo going scoreless, while Best Deal/RNV had its most output (28) in a quarter to regain the sizeable lead, 66-39, going into the fourth quarter.

It was cruise control from thereon for Best Deal/RNV as it moved to third spot in the team standings in Pool A behind the unbeaten TanHoldings (5-0) and Joeten (5-1).

In Pool B, Coca-Cola/Subway climbed up to No. 2 as it improved to a 5-1 record after whipping Star Water (0-2).

Michael Cabanas and Edward Armia teamed up in Coca-Cola/Subway’s lopsided win with the former scoring 34 points and the latter chipping in 29.

Cabanas started slow, making only a field goal in the first canto, which ended with Coca-Cola/Subway ahead by only 6, 20-14. However the moment he found his rhythm in the second quarter, Cabanas and Armia alternately hit baskets for Coca-Cola/Subway to open a 46-32 advantage at the break. The duo scored all but two of Coca-Cola/Subway’s 26 points in the second frame and they kept going in the final half to widen the gap.

First Game
Best Deal/RNV 84 – Mortos 24, R. Rueda 21, Alfonso 10, Odicta 9, Jumaquio 9, Baul 4, Corong 4, J. Rueda 3, Cayanan 2.
GPPC 65 – Mungcal 19, Alex Ocampo 12, Norial 9, Sampang 9, A. Tagle 9, Rudy Sampang 9, Santos 4, Bandojo 2, Lagura 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-7, 38-32, 66-39, 84-65.

Second Game
Coca-Cola/Subway 97 – Cabanas 34, Armia 29, Francisco 14, Ilo 10, Estoque 3, Fejeran 2, Iba 2.
Star Water 63 – Gallardo 26, Quiban 12, Dizon 10, Santos 9, Brel 6.
Scoring by quarters: 20-14, 46-32, 72-50, 97-63.