Smart Cagers snap skid, beat Andhok’s

The Smart Cagers are back on track after posting a 70-62 win over Andhok’s Grille during a heated second game in the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity/Miller Lite Basketball Invitational Friendship League last Friday night at the Gualo Rai Basketbal Court.

The Smart Cagers improved to a 2-3 record and ended their two-game losing skid, while Andhok’s continued its seesaw performance in the 10-team league, sharing the former’s mark.

Errol Peredo paced the Smart Cagers with his 20 points, nine of which came in the fourth quarter where he single-handedly outgunned Andhok’s to steal the win. Andhok’s scored only seven markers in the final period, losing the lead it protected in the first three quarters.

Andhok’s players also lost its cool in the remaining 4:23 of the fourth canto, leaving Smart Cagers’ Edwin Santos with a cut of his left eyebrow. According to league officials, the incident started when Tim Wesley gave up a hard foul on Santos, who then had second motion after the tough plays. Then just when things were being settled, Andhok’s John Artates and Mike Olaitiman stepped into the play with the former throwing a punch on Santos, who left the game bleeding.

Wesley was also thrown out of the match, while league officials are still weighing on sanctions against Artates and Olaitiman.

Andhok’s led by as much as eight in the opening quarter behind the eight points of White Capalad. However, Rommel Usi canned two triples and had eight markers in the second period to move Smart Cagers within two at halftime, 30-32. Then in the third period, Andhok’s and Smart Cagers were even, making 23 points apiece.

A 9-3 start in the first five minutes of the final canto put Smart Cagers in the lead before the game was stopped temporarily due to the Wesley-Santos incident. When the game resumed, Smart Cagers picked up where it left off to steal the win.

Helping Peredo lift the Smart Cagers to a come-from-behind win were Usi and Marlon De Dios, who chipped in 14 markers apiece. Capalad led Andhok’s with his 15 points.

QQ Rent A Car 58, Shirley’s 57

In the first game, QQ Rent A Car gained its third win in six games after edging Shirley’s Coffee Shop.

Elgene Mangali paced QQ with his 15 points and the team won the game behind its 3-point shooting. QQ converted eight triples, including the last one that Mangali drained, giving the squad enough cushion. Shirley’s connected only one shot from downtown with Ben Petersberg hitting a triple in the first period.

The QQ-Shirley’s match was a nip-and-tuck battle with the former having the edge in the end after limiting the latter to nine points in the fourth canto. Shirley’s made only two field goals in the payoff period.