IT&E scores upset; Blue Haus still perfect

IT&E’s Dexter Tenorio goes up against Islander Rent A Car’s Rocyl Ritual during their masters division game in the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Mrk Rabago)

IT&E pulled off an upset of sorts and Blue Haus continued its dominance as the masters division of the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League continued Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Blue Haus showed no mercy against Gilas Batang with the league-leaders controlling the match wire-to-wire, winning in a yawner, 130-76.

Forwards Ehrol Peredo and Junar Guiab started hostilities by firing 13 and 10 points, respectively, as Blue Haus zoomed to a 36-14 advantage right from the get-go, as Gilas Batang neither impressed nor showed youthfulness, which is ironic given their team name (gilas means excellent and batang means youth in Filipino).

Peredo continued to pour it on in the second canto, bedazzling all defenders en route to 11 more points as Blue Haus continued to widen their lead, 73-38, entering the halftime break.

Gilas Batang’s John Jugos was the lone bright spot in the first half, as the sweet-shooting forward connected on five triples for 15 points in the second half, but it still proved no match against Blue Haus’ torrent of points.

Ed Diaz picked up where Peredo left off in the third, as the former CNMI national player pumped in 15 points in the third on a combination of fastbreak layups, slashes to the basket, and 3-pointers. That more than made up for a “down” 6-point quarter by Peredo and Blue Haus nearly doubled up Gilas Batang, 103-56, going into the final 10 minutes of the non-contest.

With no 10-run rule to save Gilas Batang, Blue Haus continued the massacre in the fourth. Guiab went back to beast mode in the quarter, barreling his way for 13 more points, as Blue Haus completed the 54-point route.

Best player of the game Peredo top-scored for the now 5-0 Blue Haus with his 34 points while Diaz and Guiab added 28 and 27 markers for good measure. Jugos led Gilas Batang’s losing cause with 18 points. Gilas Batang dropped to 1-3 in the win-loss table.

In the other masters matchup last Saturday, IT&E took its lumps against Islander Rent A Car in the first three quarters of their game before making a comeback in the fourth to score an 84-69 victory.

IT&E and Islander Rent A Car fought to a virtual standstill in the first canto, 19-19. Dexter Tenorio fired 9 points for IT&E and Fradel Sedillo 12 for Islander Rent A Car in the first 10 minutes of the match.

Mike Umali and Rocyl Ritual entered the scoring fray for Islander Rent A Car come the second quarter and the added offensive punch allowed them to snare the lead, 40-31, at halftime.

After a quiet second quarter, Tenorio came back to life to life in the third as IT&E managed to cut Islander Rent A Car’s lead to 7 in the third. Sedillo managed another 7 points in the quarter to allow Islander Rent A Car to keep the advantage.

IT&E’s minor uprising turned into all-out revolt in the fourth as Tenorio’s guns continued to blaze and guards Amor Zapata and George Poquiz joined in the action. Ritual was the only offensive spark for Islander Rent A Car in the fourth, as IT&E rallied and completely overrun them in the payoff period to complete the comeback.

The win was the second straight for IT&E, which improved to 3-2, while the loss dropped Islander Rent A Car to the same record as their conqueror’s in the masters division.

Tenorio took home best player of the game honors with 34 points, while center Andy Viola chipped in 15 for IT&E. Sedillo paced Islander Rent A Car with 19 while Ritual added 15.

The UFO caging resumes tonight with its usual Thursday doubleheader with Pacific Marine taking on Saipan Vegas in the 6pm first game in the masters division. The second game will then pit Pacific Islands Club against Shirley’s Coffee Shop in the 7:30pm second game in the open division. Both games will be played at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

MASTERS
Blue Haus 130 – Peredo 34, E. Diaz 28, Guiab 27, Berline 12, T. Diaz 10, Buenabajo 8, Esdrelon 7, Garcia 5.
Gilas Batang 76 – Jugos 18, Lumanlan 16, Patawaran 13, De Jesus 13, Dacumos 8, Sangoto 4.
Scoring by quarters: 36-14, 73-38, 103-56, 130-76.

IT&E 84 – Tenorio 34, Viola 15, Pineda 12, Zapata 12, Poquiz 11.
Islander Rent A Car 69 – Sedillo 19, Ritual 15, Saplan 13, Umali 9, Karwana 4, Calbone 4, Ebuen 3.
Scoring by quarters: 19-19, 31-40, 54-61, 84-69.

MD: IT&E pulled off an upset of sorts and Blue Haus continued its dominance as the masters division of the United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League continued Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

KW: United Filipino Organization IT&E 2019 Basketball League.