IT&E takes first finals seat

IT&E’s Tawnie Manibusan, left, unloads a shot in front of the Lady Knights’ Quincy Chinen during their semis game in the girls U18 division of the Diaz youth caging last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

IT&E marched into the finals after waltzing its way past the Lady Knights, 50-21, during their semis game in the girls U18 division of the 2017 Francisco M. Diaz Memorial Youth League last Wednesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Tawnie Manibusan, Jan Travilla, and Karleen Reyes scored in twin digits to bring IT&E into the title match and eliminate the Lady Knights. The winner-take-all finale will be played tonight with IT&E taking on the victor of the other semis match between the Ol’Aces and the Junior Ol’Aces, who dueled last night, but results of their game were unavailable at press time.

Manibusan and Travilla fired a game-high 13 points apiece, while Reyes chipped in 12 to lift IT&E to the easy win despite having only five players available for the first semis game. Kye Tam and Gillian VIllagomez were the two other players who suited up for IT&E and they contributed 6 markers apiece to the team’s cause.

The Lady Knights also had a depleted lineup and could not keep up with IT&E gunners to bow out of competition. The Lady Knights will face the loser of the Ol’Aces-Junior Ol’Aces tiff today for the third place trophy.

Meanwhile, in the continuation of the regular season of the boys U18 division, the Sonics XVI/PHI routed Kagman Rollers, 63-37.

The Sonics broke away in the second half after leading by only 8 at the break, 31-23.

Keanu Diaz dropped 10 of his 17 points in the second half to help the Sonics get their fifth win in seven games. Kagman absorbed its fourth loss against two victories. The Sonics are in third place in the team standings behind the NMI Rollers (5-0) and Ol’Aces Elite (5-1), while Kagman is at the bottom half of the 12-squad field. Sonics XVIII (3-3), Natibu Warriors (3-3), MCS Knights (3-3), Kagman Sparks (1-5), Ol’Aces Extreme (1-6), Agape Torchbearers (0-4), and Northside Wolves (0-5) complete the standings.

The NMI Rollers kept its perfect record after crushing Kagman Sparks last Tuesday, 72-48.

Warren Ellama, Angelo Factor, and Kenji Abobo teamed up in the NMI Rollers’ easy victory after combining for more than half of the squad’s total output. Ellama had 12 points, while Factor and Abobo added 11 and 10, respectively. Mustafa Agustino made 16 points on a losing effort for Kagman Sparks.

In other results in the boys U18 this week, the MCS Knights outclassed the Sonics XVIII, 49-39.

Matthew Richardson recorded 12 points in the Knights’ double-digit victory, while Myles Santos and Tony Deleon Guerrero combined for 17.

First Game
IT&E 50 – Manibusan 13, Travilla 13, Reyes 12, Villagomez 6, Tam 6.
Lady Knights 21 – Chinen 6, Buenaventura 4, Bucalig 4, Alcantara 3, Toves 2, Rabang 2.
Scoring by halves: 24-7, 50-21.

Second Game
Sonics XVI/PHI 63 – Diaz 17, Rafols 11, Linaogo 6, Ordona 4, Apasan 4, Sabangan 3, De Guzman 2, Itaas 2, Ibanez 2, Dico 2.
Kagman Rollers 37 – Fitial 9, Duenas 8, Agulto 7, Rabauliman 4, Arceo 4, Fabia 3, Naputi 2.
Scoring by halves: 31-23, 63-37.