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Aqua Resort tops AK Toyota
Aqua Resort Club’s Frank Ferrer, left, stretches for a reverse layup, while his teammate Khristian Itaas steps in during a fastbreak play in their earlier match against The Game in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)
Aqua Resort Club got win No. 3 in the 2019 Atkins Kroll Marianas International Basketball League after outclassing AK Toyota, 96-83, last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Aqua Resort built a sizeable lead in the second quarter and survived Toyota’s third-quarter rally to improve to a 3-4 record for sixth place in the team standings. Toyota dropped to a 2-3 mark and No. 8 in the ladder after absorbing its fourth straight defeat.
Already ahead by double digits at the end of the first period, 33-23, Aqua Resort kept going in the second frame to take a 61-45 advantage at halftime. Arnold Arellano and Mark Ferrer teamed up in Aqua Resort’s strong first-half showing with the former scoring 18 points and the latter exploding for 22. Greg Deleon Guerrero also had double figures in the first half with his 10 markers.
Ferrer and Arellano still led Aqua Resort at the start of the second half, but did not hit multiple baskets just like what they did in the first, allowing Toyota to cut the deficit to single digit, 71-79.
Kelvin Fitial, Alvin Pantola, and Rodney Catalla joined forces, as they attempted to bring Toyota back in the game and had some success, as they moved their squad within 8, going into the fourth quarter. Fitial registered 9 points in the third period, while Pantola added 8, and Catalla drilled two triples to keep Aqua Resort within striking distance.
However, Toyota failed to complete its comeback bid in the fourth canto, as Fitial and company gassed out. Fitial was held to one field goal, while Pantola was the only Toyota player to knock in more than one basket in the final canto.
Aqua Resort, on the other hand, drew 9 points from Ferrer to widen the gap anew in the fourth frame en route to the squad’s 13-point winning margin.
Ferrer finished the match with 38 points, while Arellano chipped in 31. Fitial led Toyota with his 29 markers.
Aqua Resort 96—Ferrer 38, Arellano 31, Deleon Guerrero 12, Maratita 10, Metran 2, Salazar 2, Mendiola 1.
AK Toyota 83—Fitial 29, Pantola 18, Guilas 13, De Guzman 10, Catalla 9, Francia 2, Castillo 2.
Scoring by quarters: 33-23, 61-45, 79-71, 96-83
