Toka tames Rebels; Rollers gets first win

Toka caught fire early to torch the Rebels, 79-56, during the second game in the 2014 QQ Rent A Car Invitational Basketball League last Monday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

A torrid 17-0 run was all Toka needed to put away the Rebels and gain its fourth victory in five games for a tie for second place with defending champion Blue Haus. The Rebels remained winless in three matches.

Dan Barcinas led Toka’s jackrabbit start, as he drilled 8 of the team’ first 17 markers. He started the match by picking the pocket of Rebels guard Zack Babauta for a breakaway layup. The Rebels then committed back-to-back errors early, as Roy Norita lost the ball while dribbling near the left sideline and calling the play for his squad.

Rebels coach Joe Diaz called a quick timeout to settle his boys down, but not the pumped-up Toka players, who scored 15 more points after Barcinas’ first basket. Finally, after going scoreless and committing a lot of booboos for about four minutes the Rebels broke into the board with a point-blank shot from Freddie Litulumar, who recovered from a fumble for the squad’s first basket.

Litulumar then hit a short jumper one minute later and was the only Rebels player to make more than one field goal, as Toka continued its scintillating start en route to a 29-11 advantage at the end of the first period.

Toka protected the double-digit lead in the remaining three quarters with its balance scoring, while Litulumar had only Ryan Manglona helping him out on offense. Three Toka players finished in double figures with Preston Basa registering 18 points and Barcinas and Jason Lampkin chipping in 14 each. Ezara Caro, Kobe Mendoza, and Jimmy Tudela combined for 25 points. Litulumar had 12 to lead the Rebels, while Manglona added 11.

Meanwhile, in the first game the Rollers barged into the win column, following a 79-68 victory over the slumping Hoopaholics (1-5).
C.J. Morales top-scored in the Rollers’ first triumph in three matches, firing 26 markers. His 9 markers in the pivotal third period helped the Rollers turned a 31-33 halftime deficit to a 54-47 advantage, going into the final quarter. In the payoff period, Morales paid the Hoopaholics from fouling him, as he nailed seven straight charities to notch 10 more points in that frame.

Mike Arciaga and Mike Espinosa contributed 15 and 13 points, respectively, to back up Morales, while Alex Lauron led the Hoops’ losing cause with his 23 points.

First Game
Rollers 79 – Morales 26, Arciaga 15, Espinosa 13, Factor 6, Iglecias 5, Fidelino 4, Malonzo 3, Nakayama 2, Pangelinan 2.
Hoopaholics 68 – Lauron 23, Fitial 15, Tenorio 9, Itibus 9, Manibusan 6, Diaz 2.
Scoring by quarters: 16-14, 31-33, 54-47, 79-68.

Second Game
Toka 79 – Basa 18, Barcinas 14, Lampkin 14, Caro 9, Mendoza 8, Tudela 8, Lizama 4, Joyner 3.
Rebels 56 – Litulumar 12, Manglona 11, Norita 8, Babauta 6, Teregeyo 6, Chen 3, Matsutaro 2.
Scoring by quarters: 29-11, 43-27, 62-43, 59-56.