Previous Story
Ali’i Blue Haus nears perfect record
Ali’i Blue Haus’ Edwin Santos drives baseline and draws a foul on Stephen’s Pawnshop’s Raymond Tolentino during the third quarter of their game in the UFO caging last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Ali’i Blue Haus boosted its bid for a perfect record in the regular season of the 2016 UFO/IT&E Inter-Organizational Basketball League following its 101-79 demolition of Stephen’s Pawnshop last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Ali’i Blue Haus now has a 7-0 mark and could sweep the elimination round with a victory over Save More in last night’s game. Stephen’s Pawnshop, on the other hand, had its three-game winning streak snapped as it dropped to a 4-3 card.
Stephen’s Pawnshop was still very much in the game at the end of the third period, behind by only 5, 66-71, and even took the lead momentarily, 63-61, off James Abuy’s triple before Ali’i Blue Haus stepped on the gas in the final quarter.
Ali’i Blue Haus more than doubled Stephen’s Pawnshop’s output in the payoff period, 30-13, en route to the 22-point winning margin. Ed Diaz, Bart Demapan, and Elmer Esdrelon teamed up in Ali’i Blue Haus’ strong finish with the former scoring 7 of his 13 points in the fourth canto. Demapan chipped in 6, while Esdrelon added 5 and the two Ali’i Blue Haus players went on to lead their team after tallying 19 markers apiece.
Five other Ali’i Blue Haus players hit the board in their fourth-quarter surge, while Stephen’s Pawnshop was held to five field goals as it had limited options on offense. Stephen’s Pawnshop was without big man Jorge De Guzman and its youth reinforcement Michael Espinosa.
Without its two key players, Stephen’s Pawnshop relied heavily on Abuy and Arnold Arellano. Abuy had a game-high 28 points and was one of only two players on his team to make more than a field goal in the fourth period. Abuy had two triples, while Arellano drilled a triple and a layup to finish with 24 points. Jack Aranda was the third Stephen’s Pawnshop to score in twin digits, but was held to 2 points in their fourth-quarter meltdown.
Ali’i Blue Haus 101— Demapan 19, Esdrelon 19, Manalo 14, E. Diaz 13, Guiab 8, Santos 8, Barbo 6, Pagarao 6, Patawaran 4, Devero 2, Fernandez 2.
Stephen’s Pawnshop 79 — Abuy 28, Arellano 24, Aranda 18, Van Buren 5, Tolentino 4.
Scoring by quarters: 27-16, 50-42, 71-66, 101-79.
