8th Division, Stephen’s Pawnshop recover

Stephen’s Pawnshop and Save More players battle for the rebound during the second quarter of their game in the UFO/IT&E caging last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Stephen’s Pawnshop/NMBA and 8th Division/MAFEA bounced back from their debut losses after downing separate foes in the 2016 UFO/IT&E Inter-Organizational Basketball League last Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Stephen’s Pawnshop, which fell to Best Sunshine International-Blue Eagle in its first game, made it to the win column following a 91-70 rout of Save More/MIFICPA (1-1) in the second game last weekend. In the curtain-raiser, 8th Division, which bowed to Ali’i Blue Haus/Bayani in the league opener, pulled off a 61-55 victory against Cavite.

Kelvin Fitial top-scored for 8th Division, firing 15 points, including the 7 of the team’s last 9 points. His three straight field goals down the stretch gave 8th Division cushion. Jun Alipio, who missed 8th Division’s debut game, also finished in twin digits, registering 10 points, 6 of them came in the fourth quarter.

Dan Barcinas had 22 points on a losing effort for Cavite, which played without gunner Preston Basa. With its No. 1 scorer in the last game out, Cavite, which had 15 triples in its 99-76 rout of PC Bargain last week, knocked in only three shots from the parking lot.

In the second match, Stephen’s Pawnshop was on target from downtown to lead Save More from start to finish.

James Abuy came out smoking early in the game, drilling five triples, while Jack Aranda added one as Stephen’s Pawnshop built a 27-16 advantage after the first period.

Save More cut the deficit to single digit at the break, 41-48, behind the combined efforts of Sid Quan and Rolly Paraiso. However, Stephen’s Pawnshop regained its shooting touch in the third canto to reclaim the double-digit spread, 76-59. Bogs Dayrit converted two triples and Taj Van Buren chipped in one, while Aranda and Michael Espinosa teamed up for 11 points in Stephen’s Pawnshop’s 28-18 scoring in the third.

With its big lead, Stephen’s Pawnshop’s starters took a breather in the fourth and let their bench finished the game. Arnold Arellano, who came to play late in the third, capped Stephen’s Pawnshop’s long-game domination of Save More, scoring 8 of the team’s 15 markers in the final canto.

First Game
8th Division 61— Fitial 15, Alipio 12, Lauron 8, Itibus 8, D. Tabora 6, J. Tabora 4, Abadilla 3, Esalan 3, Sanchez 2, Manabat 2.
Cavite 55 — Barcinas 22, Renguul 10, Palacios 6, Laguindam 6, Garcia 4, Iglecias 4, Barrozo 3.
Scoring by quarters: 14-10, 33-27, 44-43, 61-55.

Second Game
Stephen’s Pawnshop 91 — Abuy 17, Arellano 12, Van Buren 12, De Guzman 12, Espinosa 11, Aranda 11, Dayrit 10, G. Aquino 4, L. Aquino 2, Bartolo 2.
Save More 70 — Quan 16, Mangali 15, Paraiso 11, Backe 10, Sison 7, Lilles 4, Villanueva 4, Sanciangco 3.
Scoring by quarters: 27-16, 48-41, 76-59, 91-70.