Ol’Aces I draws first blood in finals

Toyota Ol’Aces I withstood a late 3-point barrage from APC Brothers to carve out a 111-108 win in the opener of the 2004 BANMI Budweiser Cup best-of-three finals last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Leading by 6 points, 105-99, with 59 ticks to go after a layup by Edsel Mendoza, Ol’Aces I seemed headed for a 1-0 lead in the series.

But the no-quit Brothers had other ideas.

After missing on his initial foray from rainbow territory, Freddie Peliseman emerged from a loose ball scuffle, stepped out at the 3-point line and connected to trim the score 102-105.

Following another basket by Mendoza, Brothers struck again from the land of last resort when Jeff Diaz banked in a shot with 22.7 remaining for a 105-107 deficit.

John Santos made two more free throws to make it 109-105 for Ol’Aces I but Peliseman struck again from three to make it a 1-point lead.

Peter Camacho made 2-for-2 from the line and the Brothers was unable to get the ball to Peliseman, forcing a hurried shot from Jeff Diaz that didn’t even draw iron as the final horn sounded.

It was an epic match-up right from the opening tip with both teams giving their best much like what transpired in their elimination round games.

Ol’Aces I got off to a great start and led by 6 points before Brothers came charging back and finished the opening quarter with a run of their own and led 33-30.

Abong Camacho then asserted himself in the second, muscling his way for 12 points before an altercation with Brothers playmaker Rick Alegre relegated him to the bench.

Even without the 6’4” center though Ol’Aces I continued to dominate the game and led 60-53 at halftime.

Things got rugged in the third canto. Abong Camacho got whistled for a technical foul and had to sit down again but Brothers cannot seem to take advantage as they still trailed 70-78 going into the fourth and final quarter.

Brothers greeted the payoff period with more desperation and started their comeback.

Back-to-back triples by Ed Diaz would eventually give them an 84-82 lead with 8:40 remaining.

But playing-coach Elias Rangamar would put sanity back into Ol’Aces I’s offense. The 5’6” court general rifled three triples in a span of four minutes, stopping the Brothers’ run that set up Mendoza and Peter Camacho’s heroics in the final minute.

Peter Camacho led Ol’Aces I with 31 points, while Abong Camacho and Rangamar unloaded 20 and 16 points, respectively.

Ed Diaz was the highpoint man for Brothers with 30 points. Tony Diaz and Peliseman also added 22 and 21 points.

In the first game, Jhun Estolas drove into the lane and dished off to Pete Lizama inside for a layup with 4.1 second to go as Cougars upset Diablo, 73-71, and bagged third place.

Guard Cris Domingo had 29 points to lead Cougars, which wasted a 10-point third quarter lead and had to overcome the same deficit in the final minutes to win the contest. John Artates and Estolas added 12 and 11 markers, respectively.

Scoring leader Dave Sablan paced Diablo with 32 points. Center Shane Villanueva and off guard Ponce Rasa chipped in 13 and 11 points in a losing cause.

Game 2 of the championship between Ol’Aces I and Brothers will be played tonight. Entrance fee will remain the same $1 for adults and $0.50 cents for children 12 years old and below.

First Game

Cougars 73 – Domingo 29, Artates 12, Estolas 11, P. Lizama 9, Villagomez 4, Garcia 3, Mesa 2, Aspuria 2.

Diablo 71 – Sablan 32, Villanueva 13, P. Rasa 11, S. Rasa 8, Masga 7.

Scoring by quarters: 20-11, 35-31, 51-56, 73-71.

Second Game

Ol’Aces I 111 – P. Camacho 31, A. Camacho 20, Rangamar 16, Santos 14, Renguul 8, Saralu 8, Mendoza 8, Ogumoro 4.

Brothers 108 – E. Diaz 30, T. Diaz 22, Peliseman 21, Alegre 10, Awes 6, Ada 4, Tom Diaz 4, J. Diaz 3, Garcia 2, Tudela 1.

Scoring by quarters: 30-33, 60-53, 78-70, 111-108.