Upsets in first round of UFO semis

Sunday was no ordinary day in the ongoing Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League as two teams who held perfect records suffered their first loss of the season.

Both Cabalen-RP Construction/Transamerica and defending champion Visminda-Tambayan/Nel Atalig won their respective pools and entered the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium with undefeated records. Unfortunately for the teams, lightning struck courtesy of the two No. 2 teams from both pools, putting an end to their perfect runs.

In the opener, Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Flor A. Miranda fought off a double-digit halftime deficit, forced overtime, and stunned Visminda with a 117-107 victory.

SIP, which has won three UFO titles, got an explosive performance from guard Elmer Esdrelon, who lit up the scoreboard for 35 points while also pulling down eight rebounds, three assists, four steals, and a shot block.

Esdrelon, who won last year’s most valuable player award in the Mobil co-ed league, was in dominating form from the start as he buried a couple of 3-pointers and added another field goal to help SIP take a 25-22 lead after the first quarter of play.

Things turned quickly in Visminda’s favor in the second stanza as the defending champions closed the half on a 15-0 run to turn their deficit into a 56-41 lead at the break. Errol Peredo, Ronnel Gamboa, and Jorge De Guzman took care of much of the offensive load as the trio combined for 21 points.

Little by little, though, the SIP gunners worked closer. Esdrelon drilled two more field goals and went 7-for-7 from the charity line and veteran playmaker Rick Alegre added nine points as SIP closed to within seven, 71-78, heading into the payoff period.

There was no stopping SIP’s furious comeback as Esdrelon spearheaded another run with 10 points. With things clicking the way they wanted, SIP was able to erase their deficit as the score was tied at 95-all.

Visminda still had a shot at winning in regulation, but De Guzman missed two free throws with five seconds left on the clock.

It was all SIP in overtime as Esdrelon nailed another 3-ball plus three free throws, Bryan Flores hit a triple, a field goal, and two free throws, and Edmark Mendoza and Jester Garcia hit key baskets as SIP outscored Visminda, 22-12, for the win.

Alegre and Junar Guiab also had 17 points for SIP, while Robert “Onyok” Tamondong, Peter Mendiola, and Mendoza added 11 points apiece.

De Guzman led Visminda with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while Jawn Joyner and Peredo contributed 19 and 18 points. Pando Muleta and Gamboa also had 15 and 11 points.

In the second game, LIPS recovered from a slow start and got big offensive performances from its big three to beat Cabalen, 95-86.

Cabalen came out storming while LIPS struggled in the first quarter. Cabalen opened with a 12-4 run and cruised to an 18-7 lead as LIPS had trouble putting the rock through the hoop.

LIPS, however, is made up of proven scorers who stepped up and brought the team closer. Kevin Cequena knocked in 10 points and Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. added six, including a layup that pulled the team within a point as LIPS used a 14-4 run to pull to 21-22.

Cabalen then focused on center Dalewin Cortez, who hit key free throws while Randy Arnedo hit a running jumper to enable Cabalen to take a 35-31 lead at the break.

LIPS wasted no time and got to work in the third as Cequena nailed another triple, hit a free throw, and followed with a running floater that gave LIPS a taste of the lead, 37-35.

Both teams played their hearts out and kept pace with each other as the remainder of the period featured five ties and seven lead changes. Back-to-back triples by Cequena and Estolas gave LIPS a six-point lead but Cortez responded with a bucket and a free throw, while Ronald Delos Reyes added another free throw to bring Cabalen within a point, 60-61, with one period left.

Cabelen was able to regain the lead on an 8-4 run, 68-65, but Estolas fired a 3-pointer, spearheading a 7-0 run that gave LIPS a 72-68 lead.

LIPS held on to the lead as Cabalen continued to pressure courtesy of Cortez’s play in the paint. Cortez scored 11 straight points to keep Cabalen within four points, 79-83, with 2:14 remaining.

LIPS was able to increase the lead to six points, 87-81, and was up by three when Cortez connected from downtown with 35 seconds left to cut the lead, 86-89.

That was as close Cabalen came within the lead, as LIPS was able to hold on for the win.

Cequena led LIPS with 32 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and two blocks, while Estolas and Rowell Aranda pumped in 31 and 16 points, respectively.

Cortez paced Cabalen with 32 points, while Randy Arnedo and Ed Palma had 15 and 12 points.

The round-robin semifinal phase continues this weekend. The two teams with the best records will advance to the finals.

First Game
SIP 117 – Esdrelon 35, R. Alegre 17, Guiab 17, Tamondong 11, Edm. Mendoza 11, Mendiola 11, Flores 7, Garcia 4, Factor 4.
Visminda 107 – De Guzman 23, Joyner 19, Peredo 18, Muleta 15, R. Gamboa 11, Marasigan 7, Cosino 6, De Belen 6, Bicera 2.
Scoring by quarters: 25-22, 41-56, 71-78, 95-95, 117-107 (OT).
Referees: Arnold Mesa, Eric Artillaga, and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game
LIPS 95 – Cequena 33, Estolas 31, Ro. Aranda 16, Abuy 5, Soriano 4, Diaz 4, Canlas 2.
Cabalen 86 – Cortez 32, Arnedo 15, Palma 12, Delos Reyes 9, Dalangin 8, D. Barbo 4, Ocampo 2, Pineda 2.
Scoring by quarters: 7-18, 31-35, 61-60, 95-86.
Referees: Dado Vistal, Noel Delos Santos, and Jess Pacheco.