Two in a row for 670 Sonics/PHI

The 670 Sonics/PHI’s Christian Bravo stops his dribble and looks for a teammate to pass the ball to, while a Natibu Warriors player closes in on defense during the second half of their boys U15 division game in the Diaz youth caging last week at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The 670 Sonics/PHI booked back-to-back victories in the boys U15 division of the 2017 Francisco M. Diaz Memorial Youth League after topping DYS/NMI Rollers, 45-39, last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 670 Sonics/PHI played better in the second half to start a streak this season after losing its debut. The Zachary Johnson-coached squad fell to the Ol’Aces Elite during the league’s opener last month before bouncing back with 44-27 victory over Natibu Warriors last Tuesday. DYS/NMI Rollers also played two matches last week and was beaten by the Ol’Aces Elite, 67-56, last Wednesday.

DYS/NMI Rollers led the 670 Sonics/PHI at the end of the first half, 21-17, but the latter outgunned the former in the first 10 minutes and change of the second to overhaul the deficit and grab the lead. The 670 Sonics/PHI went on an 8-2 scoring spurt behind the two baskets apiece of Kristian Itaas and J.C. Ferrari to overtake DYS/NMI Rollers, which got its lone field goal in that slowdown from Chioni Dela Cruz.

The 670 Sonics/PHI never relinquished the driver’s seat from thereon to take its second straight victory.

Itaas top-scored for 670 Sonics/PHI with his 12 points, while Clarenz Contreras chipped in 8. Three other 670 Sonics/PHI players contributed at least 4 points apiece, while J.P. Cruz paced DYS/NMI Rollers with his 12 markers, and Matthew Ong and A.J. Hudkins added 11 apiece.

In the Ol’Aces Elite-DYS/NMI Rollers tiff, Rikko Saralu and Carlos Elchico teamed up in the former’s second half attack to hand their team the double-digit winning margin.

The duo combined for Ol’Aces Elite’s last 18 points to offset the 10 straight markers of Sunjoon Tenorio in the final 20 minutes of play.

Saralu and Elchico ended up finishing with 16 points each, while Duncan Laxa also earned twin digits with 13. Tenorio had a game-high 21 markers on a losing effort.

Wednesday Game
Ol’Aces Elite 67 — Saralu 16, Elchico 16, Laxa 13, Atan 6, Ogasawara 5, Toves 2, Ichihara 2, Diaz 2, Fleming 2.
DYS/NMI Rollers 56 — Tenorio 21, Cruz 15, Hudkins 14, Balerus 10, Dela Cruz 7, Roger 2.

Saturday Game
670 Sonics/PHI 45 — Itaas 12, Contreras 8, Tabora 7, Bayot 5, Ferrari 4, Bravo 2, Cadag 2, Sablan 2, Favor 2.
DYS/NMI Rollers 39 — Cruz 12, Hudkins 11, Ong 11, Dela Cruz 5.
Scoring by halves: 17-21, 45-39.