Cabalen take out SIP, Bartenders win

Cabalen-RP Construction silenced SIP-Verizon’s dreaded gunners and leaned on Paul Magcalas’ clutch shooting in the fourth to win 94-79 Saturday in the 2004 UFO-San Miguel Cup.

The Pool A match-up was tight the first three quarters with SIP taking a 1-point lead, 18-17, after the opening quarter before Cabalen tied things up at the half, 41-41.

Cabalen’s Ronald Delos Reyes then started to assert himself in the third canto after being limited to a paltry 4-point output in the first 20 minutes of the ballgame.

The 6’2” mastodon bulldozed his way through SIP’s thin frontline and got away with an array of power moves inside.

Delos Reyes went on to score 10 of his team’s 24 third-quarter points to give Cabalen a 65-56 cushion going into the fourth and final quarter.

Speedy Jason Gatdula was inserted in the fourth and immediately tore SIP’s vaunted full-court pressure into shreds.

The 5’5” playmaker repeatedly got into the open court and fed big men Jhun Alipio and Darwin Barbo for inside gimmes that extended Cabalen’s lead to as much as 18 points.

But SIP was not done by any stretch and consecutive 3-pointers by Edsel Mendoza, Gilbert Espinosa, and James Villacrusis whittled down the lead to 6 points.

Then came Magcalas to the rescue. With Cabalen looking tentative on offense and confused on defense in the face of SIP’s searing rally, the 2004 Marianas High School valedictorian took it upon himself to shake his team out of its doldrums.

Magcalas would go on a personal 6-0 run to reestablish Cabalen’s double-digit spread and then drove in the final nail on the coffin by icing all four free throws awarded him in the final two minutes of the ballgame.

Delos Reyes was good for 16 points and 7 rebounds for Cabalen. Magcalas added 15, while best player of the game Randy Arnedo collected 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals.

Rookie Jason Amado led SIP for the second straight game with 16 points. Veteran Rick Alegre backed him up with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 steals.

Earlier, Bartenders-Allevierra got back into the winning track after it mauled Bicol-Sabungero 104-67.

Getting a lift with the return of coach Manny Barcial, Bartenders took a 30-12 lead after opening quarter and never looked back.

Slotman Dalewin Cortez was the highpoint man for Bartenders with 22 points, while Rowell Aranda paced Bicol with 21 markers.

The UFO cancelled its Sunday schedule to prepare for the Liberation Day Parade. Chairman Ramon Awit said they would reset the games on a later date.

First Game

Bartenders 104 – Cortez 22, B. Dayrit 16, Esdirelon 14, Garcia 13, J. Dayrit 11, Macoto 10, Alcantara 9, Sitchon 9.

Bicol 67 – Ro. Aranda 21, Vitug 13, Gamboa 11, Capalad 7, Miday 6, Welborn 5, Calub 2.

Scoring by quarters: 30-12, 55-30, 82-42, 104-67.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Jess Pacheco

Second Game

Cabalen 94 – Delos Reyes 16, Magcalas 15, Arnedo 12, Ja. Gatdula 11, Mendoza 11, Alipio 10, Ocampo 6, D. Barbo 5, Jo. Gatdula 2.

SIP 79 – Amado 16, R. Alegre 15, Espinosa 12, Villacrusis 11, Flores 8, Rapanut 7, Mendoza 7, T. Alegre 2, Diaz 1.

Scoring by quarters: 17-18, 41-41, 65-56, 94-79.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Jess Pabula.