GEC rally past foe, Ol’Aces in easy win

GEC Pawnshop overcame a slow start to rally past its foe, while Ol’Aces had an easy win over a recently added team in Friday night’s open division in the 2008 FMI Inter-color Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Mark Wallace showed his offensive power in leading the Pawnbrokers to a 105-95 win over the TASI Tours Giants, while Jericho Cruz led a balanced scoring as the star-studded Ol’Aces routed the Star Waterkings, 112-54.

Wallace scored 29 of his team-high 42 points in the second half to lead the Pawnbrokers’ comeback after being down by almost 10 markers the last time a 37-46 halftime deficit.

Manuel Ajoste added 17 points, while Larry Palero tallied 12 markers also for the GEC crew of coach Jerry Lopez, which bounced back from a 88-92 loss to Shirley’s Coffee Shop-Blue Hauz last April 3.

The win improved the Pawnbrokers’ record to 2-1 to join the Shirley’s Foodmakers in joint third to fourth place behind Ol’Aces and the Advance X-Terminarors’ unbeaten 2-0 marks. The loss dropped the Giants to fifth with a 1-2 card.

Ehroll Peredo paced the Giants with 23 points, while Bernard Aquino and Ed Cosino netted 13 apiece and Banjo Basila finished with 11. Veteran guard Pando Muleta was held to a season-low five points, while big men Danny Bicera and Jawn Joyner, who played his first game after missing the first two matches, were held to a combined eight markers.

In the first game, Cruz scattered 24 points to lead Ol’Aces’ balanced scoring in a 112-54 demolition of Star Water.

Cruz had plenty of help from the Abong Camacho and Ed Diaz who netted 18 apiece for Ol’Aces, which built an early double-digit spread and never looked back.

Come-backing Jack Lizama added 17 markers, while Romeo Iginoef and Fred Pelisamen had 11 and 10 apiece. Derrick Nedlic and Elias Rangamar combined for 14 points also for the Sonny Flores-coached Ol’Aces.

Christian Areza scored 19 points to lead the Waterkings, which is made up of a number of Aqua Resort Club players that saw action in the HANMI Cup. Gil Gapor chipped in 10 with no other player scoring more than 10.

First Game

O’Aces 112 – Cruz 24, A. Camacho 18, Diaz 18, Lizama 17, Iginoef 11, Pelisamen 10, Nedlic 8, Rangamar 6.

Star Water 54 – Areza 19, Gapor 10, M. Achas 8, Ma. Achas 6, R. Achas 5, Asuncion 2, Hernandez 2, Sacramento 2.

Scoring by quarters: 26-13, 50-24, 77-37m 112-54.

Referees: Manny Sitchon and Dado Vistal.

Second Game

GEC Pawnshop 105 – Wallace 42, Ajoste 17, Palero 12, Cacho 8, Camacho 8, Celis 7, Umali 6, Wesley 3, Palma 2.

TASI Tours 95 – E. Peredo 23, Aquino 13, Cosino 13, Basila 11, De Guzman 9, Talania 6, Muleta 5, Bicera 4, Joyner 4, R. Peredo 4, Factor 3.

Scoring by quarters: 20-25, 37-46, 71-65, 105-95.

Referees: Gilbert Espinosa and Jess Pabula.