DCCA takes top spot in govt league

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs moved up a spot in the ongoing 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League and now sits on top of the team standings after beating Public School System, 97-88, Thursday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

While DCCA started like a house on fire, PSS was cold as ice as the first quarter featured a one-sided battle that ended with DCCA taking a 32-14 lead. Center Romeo Iginoef and veteran Elias Rangamar took care of much of the offensive load for the DCCA crew, combining for 20 points, while John Reyes and Joey Dela Cruz combined for the other 12 points to push the team.

The PSS cagers staged a better show in the second period and prevented DCCA from really stretching its lead, but still had their work cut out for them as they headed into halftime trailing by 19 points, 31-50.

PSS, which normally has no problem putting the ball through the hoop, finally looked like the team that won five of its first six games as Taj Van Buren got into a rhythm and buried 14 points and Peter Mendiola pumped in 10 points to spearhead a 31-point explosion. With their performance, PSS was able to inch a bit closer and was down by 13 points with 10 minutes left in the bout.

PSS continued to run on all cylinders in hopes of pulling off a comeback in the fourth quarter, but Rangamar, Iginoef, and company were able to put up just enough power to hold and survive PSS’ desperate charge.

With the loss, PSS falls into a two-way tie with the Department of Public Safety Enforcers in third place with 5-2 win-loss records.

Rangamar finished with a game-high 32 points, while Iginoef and Reyes contributed 19 and 12 points for DCCA, which now holds a 6-1 record.

Van Buren led PSS with 31 points while Mendiola and Nick Gross added 17 and 12 points. Jacob Villagomez also had 11 points.

Earlier, the Enforcers had moved up the standings with an easy 98-61 victory over the Office of Public Auditor.

The DPS players were in the driver seat from the opening tip, kicking off their campaign with a 25-9 run in the first 10 minutes of action with Elias Saralu and Ben Pelisamen each pumping in seven points to fuel the charge.

OPA played better in the second period, but DPS refused to give up any ground and again outscored their opponents, 27-14, for a comfortable 50-23 lead at the break.

Despite OPA scoring two points better than DPS in the third, it was cruise control for the Enforcers, who got back to their dominating ways with a 22-12 run in the fourth.

Joe Ito and Jake Celes led DPS with 21 and 16 points while Saralu and Pelisamen supported with 15 points apiece.

Chris Camacho paced OAP with 14 points, while Jeff Quitugua and Dave Camacho added 13 and 11 points.

First Game

DPS 98 – Ito 21, Celes 16, Saralu 15, Pelisamen 15, Kapileo 8, C. Camacho 7, Kaipat 5, Warfield 5, Sablan 4.

OPA 61 – C. Camacho 14, Quitugua 13, D. Camacho 11, Torres 9, J. Camacho 7, Sasamoto 6.

Scoring by quarters: 25-9 52-23, 76-49, 98-61.

Referees: Eric Artillaga and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

DCCA 97 – Rangamar 32, Iginoef 19, Reyes 12, Dela Cruz 9, Pangelinan 9, Taisacan 6, Sablan 4, Tenorio 3, Pua 2.

PSS 88 – Van Buren 31, P. Mendiola 17, Gross 12, Villagomez 11, Lashley 9, Rosnic 8.

Scoring by quarters: 32-14, 50-31, 75-62, 97-88.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.