Enforcers, DCCA strong in Govt debuts

The Department of Public Safety Enforcers and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs kicked off their 2006 campaign with a strong message as the teams posted convincing wins in Thursday’s Inter-Government Basketball League action at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The Enforcers had five cagers score in double figures and used a late charge to beat Tinian, 89-70.

Reigning scoring champion Elias Saralu helped DPS get off to the start they wanted as he closed the first quarter strong by scoring the team’s last 10 points—six coming from behind the three-point arc—to help the Enforcers take a 26-17 lead.

Tinian then returned the favor in the second quarter as Chris King fueled a comeback run with 12 points that resulted in the game heading into halftime with a 38-38 score.

Favor swung back to the law officers in the third stanza and this time, the charge was led by guard Ben Peliseman, who went off for 10 of the Enforcers’ 21 points, while the team pulled together to hold Tinian to 14 points to regain advantage, 59-52.

Unfortunately for Tinian, the DPS run was just a hint of things to come as the game turned into a rout in the final 10 minutes. Peliseman scored six quick points in the early goings, Jake Celes joined the scoring spree with consecutive triples, and DPS outscored their opponents, 30-18, for the 19-point victory margin.

Peliseman and Saralu led DPS with 26 and 20 points, while Celes and Joe Ito finished with 14 and 13 points. Oscar Sablan also added 10 points.

Jess Manibusan led Tinian with 18 points, while King and Anthony Borja had 16 and 10 points.

In the second game, DCCA got big performances from Joey Dela Cruz and Romeo Iginoef and beat Legislature, 85-66.

Iginoef and Dela Cruz didn’t waste anytime in making their presence felt as they combined for DCCA’s first 18 points and providing the needed offense to take a 22-14 lead.

DCCA held Legislature to 14 points again in the second quarter while adding another 18 to their corner to pad their lead to 12 points, 40-28, at the break.

Legislature, however, remained determined and crept closer at the start of the second half. Ray Duenas and Sim Iramk combined for 12 points and Legislature posted their best offensive push by knocking in 20 points to cut the deficit to nine points, 48-57.

The Legislature players weren’t able to carry momentum to the final quarter though as Dela Cruz found Iginoef in the paint for two quick buckets and Jonathan Tenorio buried consecutive triples to jump start a run that Legislature was not able to respond to.

Dela Cruz led DCCA with 27 points, while Iginoef and Leif Pangelinan finished with 23 and 12 points.

Duenas paced Legislature with 18 points, while Iramk and Dexter Mendiola had 12 points apiece. Bernard Cabrera also chipped in 10 points.

First Game
Enforcers 89 – Peliseman 26, Saralu 20, Celes 14, Ito 13, Sablan 10, Manglona 4, Warfield 2.
Tinian 70 – Manibusan 18, King 16, A. Borja 10, R. Borja 7, Manglona 5, Cabay 4, Reyes 4, Hocog 2, Sablan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 26-17, 38-38, 59-52, 89-70.
Referees: Dado Vistal and Jess Pacheco.
Second Game
DCCA 85 – Dela Cruz 27, Iginoef 23, Pangelinan 12, Tenorio 8, Taisacan 7, Benavente 4, Limes 2, Sakisat 2.
Legislature 66 – Duenas 18, Iramk 12, Mendiola 12, Cabrera 10, Manalo 6, Concepcion 4, Besong 4.
Scoring by quarters: 22-14, 40-28, 57-48, 85-66.
Referees: Arnold Mesa and Noel Delos Santos.