Toyota bags 11th win with second half explosion

Two-time defending champion Bud Light-Toyota Tundra was on a roll in the second half against Bacardi-Golden Oldies and notched their 11th win in 13 games with a convincing 108-75 victory Wednesday night in the ongoing 2005 Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Toyota cagers, however, had to dig themselves out of an early hole as they got off to a slow start while the Golden squad waxed hot and took a nine-point advantage.

Guard Joe Punzalan was on fire for Bacardi as he swooshed four triples and had 16 points, while power forward Bruce Berline punched in eight points, lifting Bacardi to a 31-22 lead after the first 10 minutes of action.

Bacardi continued to play well in the second quarter, however, they were not able to prevent Bud Light from creeping closer. The Mutt and Jeff duo of Taj Van Buren and Elias Rangamar spearheaded a furious comeback, combining for 15 points, while the rest of the Toyota cast limited Bacardi to 13 points to pull to within a point at the break, 43-44.

It got worse for the Golden Oldies as Toyota kicked into higher gear and broke the game wide open courtesy of a 33-point eruption to start the second half. Rangamar, Elias Saralu, and Abong Camacho each notched eight points and by the time the fourth period came, Tundra was already ahead by a comfortable margin, 76-59.

Toyota then went to their outside shooting in the payoff quarter as Jake Celes knocked in three straight bombs, Van Buren buried a couple, and Taula Peter added another to highlight Toyota’s final push.

Toyota finished the game with 15 hits from downtown.

Van Buren and Saralu finished with 28 and 16 points, while Rangamar and Camacho contributed 15 and 14 points for Toyota.

Punzalan led all scorers with 29 points, while Berline and center Tony Raho supported him with 17 and 12 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, the scheduled game between O’Douls-Ol’Aces and Michelob-Masters Construction was postponed and rescheduled for this Monday at 7pm.

Bud Light-Toyota 108 – Van Buren 28, Saralu 16, Rangamar 15, Camacho 14, Celes 9, Iginoef 9, Renguul 8.Peter 7.
Bacardi-Golden Oldies 75 – Punzalan 29, Berline 17, Raho 12, Warfield 7, Aguon 6, Muna 4.
Scoring by quarters: 22-31, 43-44, 76-59, 108-75.
Referees: Dado Vistal and Arnold Mesa.