Mawati, Napa triumph

Mawati’s Bradley Demapan, center, tries to recover the loose ball against Connie’s BBQ players Ryan Hipolito, left, and Ronald Esmores during the first quarter of their game in the One Pacific caging last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mawati and Napa topped their respective opponents to complete the opening day winners list in the One Pacific Promotional Basketball League 2020 last Sunday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Mawati played in the third game and outclassed Connie’s BBQ, 66-61, while NAPA routed IT&E in the nightcap, 100-59, to join 6JMS/Sea Bridges and Blue Haus in the win column of the 16-team league.

Napa exploded for 30 points in the first quarter to take early control of its game against IT&E and kept the comfortable lead in the last three frames to cruise to victory.

Ivan Devero and Alken Ege teamed up in giving NAPA a good start, as they scored 8 points apiece in the first-period onslaught to lift their team to a 30-14 advantage.

Napa then widened the gap in the second quarter, 49-25, as two more players stepped up with Arnexel Rosario firing 9 markers and Paulo Rafols chipping in 7 markers, including their last 6 points in that period.

Despite the big lead in the first half, Napa showed no mercy to IT&E in the second with Jugos teaming up with Rafols and Rosario in delivering the killer blows.

Meanwhile, Rodel Pastrana and Frank Ferrer hit clutch baskets to help Mawati thwart last season’s finalist Connie’s BBQ.

Mawati’s Bradley Demapan battles Connie’s BBQ’s Jesse Sienna for the ball during the opening tip of their match in the One Pacific caging last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The duo combined for Mawati’s last 10 points with Pastrana scoring 6 and Ferrer adding 4. Pastrana came to Mawati’s rescue in the final canto after being held to one field goal in the third. He finished with 25 points, while Ferrer and Jerome Directo also had double figures with 16 and 15 markers, respectively.

Mawati led from start to finish, but never managed to pull away, as Eric Joe kept Connie’s BBQ in the game.

Joe used his height and heft to cherry pick in the paint and set up his teammates, as he scored 21 points before getting the boot in the last four minutes of the match due to a league infraction. He made 9 points in the fourth canto where Connie’s BBQ was able to force a deadlock 59-all, before Joe’s departure hurt the team’s chances of completing its comeback bid.

Third Game
Mawati 66—Pastrana 25, Ferrer 16, Directo 15, Demapan 6, Gontar 6, Mateo 5, Nonato 2.
Connie’s BBQ 61—Joe 21, Danao 8, Mateo 7, Dayao 6, Esmores 4, Centina 4, Sienna 2, Bongolan 2, Olivar 2.
Scoring by quarters: 14-12, 34-26, 45-41, 66-61.

Fourth Game
Napa 100—Rafols 19, Ege 13, Rosario 13, Fundador 12, Jugos 8, Ebuen 8, Fitial 8, Devero 8, Tibayan 4, De Guzman 2, Acosta 2, Dacumos 2.
IT&E 59—Santos 23, Deleon Guerrero 14, Cruz 6, Pamintuan 4, Aglipay 4, Bennet 2, Palacios 2.
Scoring by quarters: 30-14, 49-25, 73-44, 100-59.