Country House springs surprise in Game 1

Pennant champion Capricciosa paid the price of overconfidence when they succumbed to a never-say-die Country House team, 95-85, in Game 1 of the 2004 Inter-Restaurant Basketball League finals held early yesterday morning at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Country House, fresh from its inspiring come-from-behind overtime win against Angel Wings, stormed out of the gates and scored the first 5 points of the contest before Capricciosa got into the scoreboard.

Sharpshooting guard Edward Vega was on fire from downtown, connecting for two straight triples to help his team erect its first double-digit spread of the match.

Vega’s offensive show forced Capricciosa to burn its second timeout of the quarter. But the powwow apparently did little to stop Country House’s blitzkrieg as do-it-all swingman Banjo Basila simply imposed his will on offense and after a quarter of play Capricciosa found itself down, 29-15.
Country House had a bit of a letdown in the middle stages of the second when Capricciosa came charging back to trim the lead to 11 points, 40-29, on a bankshot by Brando Balabis.

That was the closest Capricciosa would inch to Country House’s lead in the first half, however, as Country House rolled off 6 straight points capped by a finger roll from playing-coach Jake Villanueva.

After 20 minutes of play, players from both sides headed back to their respective benches for intermission with Country House ahead by a whopping 20 points, 51-31.

Country House continued to enjoy a hefty lead in early goings of the third until a 3-pointer by Ad Arriola at the 7:44 mark of the canto touched off a searing rally by Capricciosa.

Capricciosa chopped the once-imposing Country House lead to just 53-42 on an Antonio Roman bucket off an assist by Andy Viola.

Although Vega and power forward Joy Dayrit hit crucial baskets to stem the tide, there was just no stopping Capricciosa’s resurgence led by former National player Gyles Ruluked.

The 5’11” high-leaper made a putback to make it just a 10-point lead with 53 seconds left in the quarter.

He then silenced the Country House bleechers by scoring on a fastbreak and hitting a buzzer-beating jumper after grabbing his own missed shot following a 1-for-2 performance from the line, pegging the count at 69-64 at the end of the quarter.

But what confidence Capricciosa gained in the final minutes of the third was quickly dashed when Country House greeted the start of the payoff period with furious a run.

Despite three of its key players burdened by foul trouble, Country House reestablished its double-digit spread when Vega faked off Ruluked on a pretty layup.

Basila then stole a pass and fed Vega for an 81-69 advantage, time down to 3:34 in the ballgame. Capricciosa would no longer threaten after that and Country House celebrated with the 10-point win.

Basila once again earned MVP of the game honors after filling the stat sheet with 45 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Vega and Dayrit also shone in the game pumping in 19 and 14 points, respectively.

Arriola and veteran forward Randy Arconado led Capricciosa’s losing cause with 21 points apiece. Ruluked had a nice all-around game with 20 points, 14 caroms and 7 assists. He, however, faded in the homestretch accounting for only 2 points.

The 2004 IRBL resumes tonight at 11pm with the third place game between Angel Wings and Jollibee. The second game of the best-of-three championship between Country House and Capricciosa is scheduled for Friday.

Country House 95 – Basila 45, Vega 19, Dayrit 14, Villanueva 8, Tabei 3, San Gabriel 2, Lopez 2, Mutoc 2.

Capricciosa 85 – Arriola 21, Arconado 21, Ruluked 20, Roman 10, Viola 4, Balabis 3, Molar 2, Navarro 2, Camacho 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-15, 51-31, 69-64, 95-85.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Arnold Mesa.