Ali’i Blue Haus keeps perfect record

Ali’i Blue Haus/Bayani is still unbeaten in the 2016 UFO/IT&E Inter-Organizational Basketball League following a 78-54 rout of Cavite last Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

With its undefeated record in five games, Ali’i Blue Haus kept the top spot in the nine-team field, while Cavite continued its roller-coaster performance in the league after dropping to a 2-3 mark. Ali’i Blue Haus got its fourth win after downing Cavite and the fifth over Maplas (via default last Saturday).

After making only 9 points in the first quarter, Ali’i Blue Haus went down to business in the second half en route to its 24-point winning margin. The league-leading team outgunned Cavite in the third canto, 26-10, turning a 25-27 halftime deficit to a 51-37 advantage, entering the final period.

Ivan Devero, who was scoreless in the first half, anchored Ali’i Blue Haus’ breakaway in the third frame, firing 8 points the pivotal quarter. Manalo Manalo also helped out in the third, adding 6 after being held to a free throw in the first period, where Ali’i Blue Haus fell behind, 9-15.

Cavite led early in the game after holding Ali’i Blue Haus to three field goals in the first 10 minutes of play. However, Cavite’s own offense also slowed down in the second half with gunners Preston Basa and Dar Barcinas failing to hit baskets in streaks. Basa, who made his first triple in the match, was without a field goal in the second and was held to one triple apiece in the third and fourth frames. Barcinas was also limited to one basket in the first, third, and fourth cantos.

Marvin Rabauliman, another 40-and-under player recruited by Cavite to reinforce the masters players on the team, struggled in his second game in the league, drilling only one field goal and a free throw.

In contrast, Ali’i Blue Haus got double figures from its reinforcements with Devero and Bart Demapan logging 13 points apiece. Demapan took over from Devero in the fourth canto, nailing three field goals, while veterans Elmer Esdrelon and Junar Guiab also stepped up to finish off Cavite. Esdrelon contributed 11 markers, while Guiab had 10.

In the second game, 8th Division/MAFEA gained its third straight victory after a similar twin-digit winning margin against PC Bargain/Visminda, 77-58.

8th Division (4-2), which led by only 5 after the third canto, 59-54, spread the wealth in the fourth quarter to whip PC Bargain (1-5). The streaking squad had eight players making it to the board in the final frame, while PC Bargain bled for points, canning only two baskets off Albert Reyes and Romualdo Alegre’s field goals.

PC Bargain played without its top scorer James Villacrusis, leaving a big hole on the team’s offense, while 8th Division had no trouble getting contributions from its players with Kelvin Fitial, Alex Lauron, Maverick Itibus, Rodney Catalla, and Jun Tabora finishing in double figures.

First Game
Ali’i Blue Haus 78 — Demapan 13, Devero 13, Esdrelon 11, Guiab 10, Mendoza 8, Manalo 8, Santos 7, Barbo 4, Pagarao 4.

Cavite 54 — Barcinas 10, Basa 10, Iglecias 8, Ocampo 8, Renguul 6, Laguindam 5, Rabauliman 5, Palacios 4.

Scoring by quarters: 9-15, 25-27, 51-37, 78-54.

Second Game
8th Division 77 — Fitial 12, Lauron 11, Itibus 10, Catalla 10, J. Tabora 10, Tenorio 8, Alipio 6, Diaz 2, D. Tabora 2, Abadilla 2, Esalan 2, Sanchez 2.

PC Bargain 58 — Reyes 19, Jo. Villacrusis 13, Alegre 12, Manibusan 11, Abadilla 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-16, 38-35, 59-54, 77-58.