SIP, MOVER draw first blood in MDX playoffs

Defending champion Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense and No. 4 MOVER drew first blood in the playoffs of the 2006 MDX Good Sportsmanship Basketball League.

SIP and MOVER were both successful in the first round of the round-robin playoffs on Friday, with the defending champs downing No. 3 Budweiser, and MOVER stunning No. 1 RHT.

SIP was first to take a step closer to reaching the finals after beating Budweiser, 97-78.

Trailing, 13-17, heading into the second period, the SIP cagers regrouped and managed to turn the tables as captain Rick Alegre stepped up and scored 12 points to spearhead a furious rally. SIP was in control, and managed to score 20 points more than the opposition after outscoring Budweiser, 34-14. With that, the team went into halftime up by 16 points, 47-31.

Things continued to go in SIP’s favor when action resumed. Fred Pelisamen and Elmer Esdrelon combined for 19 points, helping SIP break the 30-point mark again.

SIP was leading by 24 points, 79-55, when the fourth quarter began, and never really had trouble closing out the bout.

Budweiser tried to rally in the final 10 minutes, but the deficit was just too much to overcome.

Esdrelon was the player of the game with 18 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals.

Pelisamen led the scoring with 20 points, while Alegre and Mel Manibusan added 14 apiece. Edsel Mendoza and James Villacrusis also had 12 markers each for SIP.

Sonny Lerio led Budweiser with 16 points, while Marlon De Dios pumped in 12 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Peter Camacho and Taj Van Buren also added 11 and 10 points, respectively.
I
n the second game, the pennant champions were shocked after towers Eric Dalangin and Dalewin Cortez led MOVER to a 104-91 victory.

MOVER raced off to a solid start as Cortez punched in eight points, and Dalangin and Glen Aquino pumped in six apiece to help the team grab a 24-17 lead after the first period.

The pennant champions, however, showed why they had the best record in the regular season as the team rallied in the second stanza and turned their deficit into a one-point lead at the break, 44-43. Guard Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr. and Kevin Cequena fueled the attack, scoring seven and six points to put some life in their team’s push.

But just when it seemed like RHT was going to take control, the MOVER cagers stepped up and exploded by outscoring their opponents, 30-19. MOVER’s burst came from a balanced attack that saw Ron Gamboa, Cortez, and Dalangin score six points apiece, and Ryan Sanciangco and Ziddy Johannes pumping in four points each.

With things going in the right direction for MOVER, the team headed into the fourth period ahead by 10 points, 73-63.

With the game on the line, RHT turned to Estolas for answers. The scoring machine did what he could, hitting three triples, four free throws, and a regular field goal, but his 15 points was far from being enough to shoulder a successful comeback.

This as Sanciangco and Dalangin each scored eight points, preventing a rally by RHT.

Dalangin was the player of the game as he led MOVER with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Cortez also had 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Gamboa and Sanciangco worked their way for 19 and 16 points. Aquino contributed 10 points.

Estolas led RHT with 29 points, while Gyles Ruluked and Cequena added 13 points apiece. Ruluked also grabbed 11 rebounds.

Action resumes tonight, with SIP battling MOVER at 6pm, and RHT and Budweiser squaring off at 7:30pm.

The final round of the round-robin contest will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 29, as RHT and SIP bang heads at 6pm, and Budweiser and MOVER battle at 7:30pm.

The two teams with the top win-loss cards will then advance to play in the championship game, which will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3.

First Game

SIP 97 – Pelisamen 20, Esdrelon 18, Alegre 14, Manibusan 14, Mendoza 12, Villacrusis 12, D. Barbo 4, Flores 4, Marasigan 4.
Budweiser 78 – Lerio 16, De Dios 12, Camacho 11, Van Buren 10, Rangamar 7, Abuy 6, Factor 5, Mendoza 4, Cruz 3, Demapan 2, Vinas 2.
Scoring by quarters: 13-17, 47-31, 79-55, 97-78.
Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Eric Artillaga.

Second Game

MOVER 104 – Dalangin 26, Cortez 20, Gamboa 19, Ry. Sanciangco 16, Aquino 10, Johannes 8, Domingo 5.
RHT 91 – Estolas 29, Ruluked 13, Cequena 13, Aranda 8, Sablan 8, Villarin 6, Delos Reyes 4, Peredo 4, Muleta 2, Artates 2, Joyner 2.
Scoring by quarters: 24-17, 43-44, 73-63, 104-91.
Referees: Tom Alegre and Gilbert Espinosa.