670 Sonics/PHI gets first win

670 Sonics/PHI’s Christian Bravo draws the defense of four Natibu Warriors players during the second half of their boys U15 division game in the Diaz youth caging last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The 670 Sonics/PHI recovered quickly from its debut loss in the U15 division of the 2017 Francisco M. Diaz Memorial Youth League following a 44-27 rout of the Natibu Warriors last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 670 Sonics/PHI, which dropped its opener against the Ol’Aces Elite (30-33) late last month, used a 10-2 run in the opening minutes of the second half to set up the easy victory against Natibu.

The final half of the 40-minute match started with the 670 Sonics/PHI ahead by 8, 23-15. Clarence Contreras, JC Ferrari, Earl Tabora, Christian Bravo, and Mark Morera then drilled one basket apiece in the short rally against the 2 points of Joel Norita, giving the 670 Sonics/PHI a promising 33-17 advantage.

The 670 Sonics/PHI never relinquished the double-digit lead in the remaining minutes of the game as Natibu failed to make any headway in the second half.

Contreras top-scored in the 670 Sonics/PHI’s first win this season with his 13 points, while five of his teammates chipped in at least two field goals apiece in their 17-point victory. Norita had 9 on a losing effort for Natibu.

Meanwhile, the Ol’Aces Elite and Mt. Carmel posted contrasting wins in last Monday’s pair of U15 games.

In the curtain-raiser, the Ol’Aces Elite edged the Ol’Aces Extreme, 55-47, while the Knights hammered the Wolves in the second match, 64-45.

Mt. Carmel went all out in the second half after falling behind by a hair at the end of the first, 21-22.

Matthew Richardson led the Knights’ attack in the second half after dropping 11 of his game-high 14 points in the final 20 minutes of the match. He also drew a lot of help from his teammates, as five other MCS players scored at least two baskets each in the second half.

In the Ol’Aces Elite-Ol’Aces Extreme tiff, Rikko Saralu, E.J. Abejo, and Carlo Elchico joined forces in lifting the former past the latter for their second victory in as many games. The trio combined for more than half of the Ol’Aces Elite’s total output with Saralu firing 12 points and Abejo and Elchico contributing 11 and 7, respectively.

Jedial Manalo paced the Ol’Aces Extreme with his 13 markers.

TUESDAY
670 Sonics /PHI 44 — Contreras 13, Caruana 6, Itaas 6, Tabora 4, Bravo 4, Tabora 4, Morera 2, Bayot 2.
Natibu Warriors 27 — J. Norita 9, Evangelista 6, Kumuch 6, Atalig 5, Lizama 1.
Scoring by halves: 23-15, 44-27.

MONDAY
First Game
Ol’Aces Elite 55 — Saralu 12, Abejo 11, Elchico 7, Quitugua 6, Agustin 4, Reyes 4, Dela Cruz 2.
Ol’Aces Extreme 47 — Manalo 13, Villagomez 12, Sagum 7, Rabano 7, Elnas 6, Camacho 2.
Scoring by halves: 26-22, 55-47.

Second Game
MCS Knights 64 — Richardson 14, Deleon Guerrero 10, Saures 6, Muna 6, Castro 6, Yun 6, Quitugua 4, Gamab 4, Yu 2.
Wolves 45 — Soriano 13, Angelo 10, Laxa 8, Ferrer 6, Zhang 6, De Jose 2.
Scoring by halves: 21-22, 64-45.