Capricciosa forces rubber match

Capricciosa hounded Banjo Basila with a stifling defense the entire game and defeated Country House, 92-84, yesterday morning at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium and extended the 2004 Inter-Restaurant Basketball League championship to a third and final game.

Former National player Gyles Ruluked drew the tough assignment to clamp down on Country House’s prolific swingman and limited Basila to just a 3-pointer in the first quarter, as Capricciosa led 20-17.

Meanwhile, Ruluked’s sidekick Ed Arriola exploded for 10 points in the second to lift Capricciosa to a 41-33 spread at the halfway mark of the game. Basila continued to struggle offensively and had only 5 points to show for at the turn.

Capricciosa renewed their attack on Basila and Country House at the start of the second half. Knowing all too well that Basila could get hot pretty quickly, Capricciosa sent two players to shadow him.

A frustrated Basila tried to force his way inside and outside and these resulted in a number of turnovers and missed shots going long that translated to easy fastbreak points for Capricciosa, especially for slotman Reynaldo “Badong” Camacho.

While Country House couldn’t have played more poorly, Capricciosa was making all things happen on both sides of the floor.

In fact, the team enjoyed as much as a 20-point spread, 73-53, when Randy Arconado made a nifty reverse with 18 second left in the quarter. But Basila struck back and a 3-point play of his own made it a 17-point Country House deficit going into the fourth.

There was no sign of a Country House uprising most of the payoff quarter, as Arconado, Camacho and Arriola made the court their personal playground.

The lead would swing from 14 to 18 points until a late surge by Basila and company made it interesting at the end.

Back-to-back buckets by Basila cut the lead to 86-74 with 2:15 left in the game and Country House went on a fouling spree in an effort to extend the game.

They were only half successful, however, and managed only to come as close as 8 points before time finally ran out.

Camacho earned best player of the game honors after winding up with 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. Arriola and Arconado also finished with 18 and 15 points, respectively.

Despite the defensive pressure, Basila still led Country House with 22 points, 13 boards, and 6 assists. Joy Dayrit, Edward Vega, and Jake Villanueva also scored in double figures in the loss.

The rubber match between Capricciosa and Country House will take place tomorrow evening beginning at 11pm.

In the finals of the 3-point shootout held during halftime, Arconado handily won the rainbow king title against Country House’s Ambie Vega.

Capricciosa 92 – Arriola 18, Camacho 16, Arconado 15, Ruluked 9, Mangahis 9, Roman 8, Viola 7, Navarro 5, Molar 5.

Country House 84 – Basila 22, Dayrit 19, Vega 15, Villanueva 15, Bautista 4, Tabei 2, Mutoc 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-17, 41-33, 73-56, 92-84.

Referees: Ricky Itaas and Arnold Mesa