Eats Easy snaps Hoopaholics’ winning streak

Eats Easy’s Stephen Erdene takes a shot challenged by the Hoopaholics’ Kelvin Fitial during their game in the Open Division of the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Kimberly A. Bautista)

Eats Easy moved up to solo second place in the team standings in the Open Division of the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League after outclassing the Hoopaholics, 78-70, last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Eats Easy now has a 4-1 record, just slightly behind division leader Blue Eagle (4-0), while the Hoopaholics dropped to third after absorbing its first loss in four matches.

The trio of Prince Factor, Jun Fidelino, and Kobe Mendoza teamed up in the victory, as all finished in double figures and hit key baskets in the fourth quarter to keep their team on top. Factor scored a game-high 23 points and tallied 5 markers in the final canto, while Fidelino made 7 of his 18 in the fourth frame. Mendoza added 19 points and had 4 in the finale canto that started with Eats Easy clinging to a 54-52 lead.

Shane Deleon Guerrero tried to overhaul the slim deficit in the fourth quarter, as he scored 10 points in that period, but the Hoopaholics still fell short, as only him and Alex Lauron hit more than one basket for the squad in the final 10 minutes of play.

Vision RNV 81, AK Toyota 63
In the other Open Division game last weekend, Vision RNV eased past Atkins Kroll Toyota.

Tristan Cosino starred in the victory after exploding for 34 markers, while Elmer Esdrelon also had a good shooting night following his 24-point performance.

Cosino traded baskets with Don Brennan in the first period with the former firing 12 points and the latter hitting four triples and scoring 14. Despite Brennan’s solid offensive game in the first canto, Vision RNV still took the lead, 23-16, as only Bobby Coldeen backed up his teammate. Cosino, on the other hand, had Errol Peredo, Ronald Rueda, and Junar Guiab helping him out for their 7-point advantage.

Vision RNV went on to pad its lead in the ensuing quarters with Cosino still on fire and getting support from his teammates, particularly Esdrelon, who finished off Toyota with his 13 points in the fourth period.

Toyota fell behind by double figures, as Brennan failed to sustain his strong start and his teammates did not pick up the slack.

Vision RNV improved to a 2-2 record, while Toyota fell to a 1-3 slate.

JSN 72, IT&E 61
In the Masters Division match last Saturday, JSN topped IT&E for its fourth victory in five games.

Jun Tabora, Randy Mungcal, and Jun Alipio scored in twin digits to lift JSN to the 11-point winning margin. Tabora had a game-high 22 points, while Alipio made 12, and Mungcal chipped in 10.

Tabora delivered 18 of his total production in the second half to keep JSN’s distance against IT&E, which has only one win after three games.