Visminda, Cabalen keep hopes alive in Final Four

Defending champion Visminda-Tambayan/Nel Atalig and Cabalen-RP Construction/Transamerica kept their hopes alive in the Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League Sunday night.

With their loss to three-time champion Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense-Flor A. Miranda last week still fresh in their minds, the Visminda cagers took out their fury on LIPS-Mobil and strolled to a 128-101 victory Sunday night.

Visminda got the start they wanted as Errol Peredo and Emil De Belen spearheaded an explosive first quarter that ended with the team up by double digits, 29-14.

Peredo continued his hot shooting over to the second period as he knocked in another 12 points, while Danny Bicera, Jawn Joyner, and Ronnel Gamboa combined for 15 points as Visminda continued its sizzling play and outscored LIPS, 34-27, to stretch their lead to 22 points, 63-41, at the break.

Kevin Cequena and Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. tried to bring LIPS back into contention at the start of the second half as the two went off for 16 and 10 points, but their combined effort was no match for Visminda’s balanced attack, which enabled them to close the stanza with a 95-75 lead before hitting cruise control for the final 10 minutes.

Peredo finished with 33 points, while Joyner and Pando Muleta had 14 and 13 points. Gamboa and Jorge De Guzman added 11 and 10 points.

Cequena and Estolas paced LIPS with 32 and 27 points.

Meanwhile, Cabalen had a tough task against SIP but survived with a strong second half for an 88-74 victory.

The teams were neck and neck throughout the first 10 minutes of play, with SIP clinging to a one-point lead, 20-19, at the end of the first period.

Cabalen finally took the lead, 25-24, on a triple by veteran Ed Palma—the first lead for Cabalen since 2-0 at the start of the game—and capitalized on three straight turnovers by SIP to go up 32-24 with 2:03 remaining in the half.

SIP managed to close in, though, and trailed by four points, 30-34, at the break.

With their season on the line, Cabalen picked up their level of play and began to pull away in the third period as Palma, Ronald Delos Reyes, Dalewin Cortez, and Eric Dalangin took care of business at the offensive end while the team pulled together to limit SIP’s points. Heading into the fourth, Cabalen led, 59-48.

Cabalen pushed their lead up to 17 points on several occasions, but SIP refused to throw in the towel and began to stage a comeback midway through the period. A triple by Brian Flores brought SIP to within eight points, 68-76, with 2:24 left and a layup by Peter Mendiola enabled the team to close in, 70-77. After exchanging baskets, Cabalen was able to secure the win, going on a 9-2 run to close the game.

Palma and Randy Arnedo led Cabalen with 20 and 16 points, while Cortez and Dalangin added 13 and 12 points.

Elmer Esdrelon led SIP with 17 points, while Junar Guiab and Mendiola chipped in 16 and 13 points.

FIRST GAME

Visminda 128 – Peredo 33, Marasigan 19, Joyner 14, Muleta 13, R. Gamboa 11, De Guzman 10, Cosino 9, Bicera 7, De Belen 6, N. Gamboa 6.

LIPS 101 – Cequena 32, Estolas 27, Villarin 9, Ro. Aranda 8, Espinosa 6, Soriano 6, Artates 5, Surima 4, Abuy 4.

Scoring by quarters: 29-14, 63-41, 95-75, 128-101.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos, Arnold Mesa, and Jess Pacheco.

SECOND GAME

Cabalen 88 – Palma 20, Arnedo 16, Cortez 13, Dalangin 12, Delos Reyes 9, Mungcal 7, Ocampo 7, D. Barbo 2, Sampang 2.

SIP 74 –Esdrelon 17, Guiab 16, Mendiola 13, Flores 9, Alegre 6, Tamondong 5, Garcia 5, Factor 2, Edm. Mendoza 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-20, 34-30, 59-48, 88-74.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos, Arnold Mesa, and Dado Vistal.