670 Sonics, Rollers 1 still unbeaten

670 Sonics and Ol’Aces 2 players battle for the loose ball during the first half of their U16 division game in the TanHoldings holiday caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The 670 Sonics and Rollers 1 kept their perfect records in the boys U16 division of the 2016 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament after posting contrasting wins last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

In the first match in the division, Rollers 1 eased past the Ol’Aces 1, 44-21, while in the last match, the 670 Sonics outclassed the Ol’Aces 2, 63-57. Rollers 1 now has a 4-0 record to remain on top of the team standings in the eight-squad division, while the 670 Sonics is not far behind at second place with its 3-0 card. The Ol’Aces 1 and 2 dropped to 0-2 and 1-2 slates, respectively, and are at the bottom half of the team standings.

No Rollers 1 player broke into double figures as it ran a balance offense for the 23-point win over the Ol’Aces 1. All 10 players on Rollers 1’s roster made it to the board with six of them scoring at least 4 points each. Angelo Factor had 9 points, Jude Tengco chipped in 8, and Matthew Richardson tallied 5. Jake Pangelinan, Joe Kisa, and A.J. Hudkins contributed 4 markers apiece.

While Rollers 1 spread the wealth, it was a different story for the Ol’Aces 1, which had only two players scoring in the first half, allowing the former to build a 21-4 halftime advantage. Rollers 1 then continued to draw contributions from different players in the second half, giving the Ol’Aces 1 no chance to overhaul the deficit.

In the final boys U16 division match last weekend, the 670 Sonics leaned on the trio of Rafael Ordona, Sean Apasan, and Jester Kintaro to down the Ol’Aces 2.

Ordona top-scored for the 670 Sonics with his 16 points, while Kintaro and Apasan used their height advantage to also hit double figures as they logged 12 markers each.

Apasan and Ordona started out for the 670 with the former firing 9 points and the latter adding 6 off two triples to lift their team to a 28-23 lead at the break. At the resumption of the match, Ordona found a new ally in Kintaro, who made up for his slow performance in the first half (nailing only one field goal) by registering 10. Ordona buried two more treys in the second half with his last also serving as the 670 Sonics’ final basket in the match.

Ordona, Kintaro, and Apasan’s combined output offset the game-high 20 points of the Ol’Aces 2’s Troy Ngirarois, who was the lone player on his team to score in twin digits.

Meanwhile, in the boys U25 division, Rollers 2 gained its first win in two games after topping Talaabwogh Star, 50-43.

It was a come-from-behind victory for Rollers 2 as it faced a 23-38 deficit at halftime. Prince Factor, who was held to one field goal in the opening half, led Rollers 2’s fightback after scoring 10 markers, including the team’s last 5 points.

Factor finished with 14 points, while Sam Darag, who kept Rollers 2 in the game in the first half, chipped in 13. Joseph Lifoifoi had 20 markers in a losing effort for the winless Talaabwogh (0-2).

U16 DIVISION
First Game
Rollers 1 44 – Factor 9, Tengco 8, Richardson 5, Kisa 4, Pangelinan 4, Hudkins 4, Dela Cruz 3, Quitugua 2, Cobacha 2, Valencia 1.

Ol’Aces 1 21 – Laxa 5, Ogasawara 4, Metran 4, Casauran 2, Soriano 2, Ferrer 2, Lajara 2.

Scoring by halves: 21-4, 44-21.

Third Game
670 Sonics 63 – Ordona 16, Kintaro 12, Apasan 12, Itaas 9, Dionisio 6, Bayot 5, Cadag 3.

Ol’Aces 2 57 – Ngirarois 20, Ichihara 7, Quitugua 6, Santos 6, Lizama 5, Deleon Guerrero 5, Johnny 5, Reyes 1.

Scoring by halves: 28-23, 63-57.

U25 DIVISION
Rollers 2 50 – Factor 14, Darag 13, Kwon 9, Ellama 8, Rabauliman 2, McKenzie 1.

Talaabwogh Star 43 – Jo. Lifoifoi 20, Ja. Lifoifoi 16, Lieto 2, F. Lifoifoi 2, Concepcion 2, Evangelista 1.

Scoring by halves: 28-23, 50-43.