Armatech, Blue Haus keep unbeaten records

Players of Armatech pose for a group photo after the opening ceremony of the Emon Lodge caging mid this month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Armatech is unbeaten in two games, recording its recent win last Monday against Hawaiian Rock. (Contributed Photo)

Armatech crushed Hawaiian Rock in the nightcap, 91-58, while Blue Haus whipped Degree, 94-74, to remain undefeated. Armatech bagged its second win in as many games, while Blue Haus went up to 3-0.

A 34-15 scoring binge in the second quarter helped Blue Haus cruise to victory. Before its second-period explosion, Blue Haus was ahead by only six points, 22-16. No one stood out in Blue Haus’ breakaway in the second canto, but six players scored at least four points apiece to pad the lead to 25 at halftime, 56-31.

Blue Haus never looked back from thereon and the safe lead allowed its other players to make it to the board in the second half. Five Blue Haus players finished in twin digits with Sam Fernandez leading the way with his 20 markers. Tony Diaz chipped in 17, while Edwin Santos, Felix Palacios, and Bryan Manabat added 10 apiece. Bruce Berline contributed nine, while Jun Factor and Ernie Moises combined for 10 more points in Blue Haus’ balance scoring.

Three Degree players scored in twin digits with Ariel Jinang firing 20 and Jun Sampang and Alex Ocampo logging 17 and 14, respectively, but majority of their points came when the game was already out of their hands. Degree has yet to enter the win column after two matches.

In the second tiff, Armatech snapped Hawaiian Rock’s two-game winning streak and handed the latter its second loss in four assignments.

Armatech dominated Hawaiian Rock in the second half after failing to create a big gap in the first 20 minutes of play. Armatech ended the first half holding a 34-30 advantage before zooming to a 15-point lead by the end of the third, 61-45. The trio of James Abuy, Bernard Montano, and Gorge Poquiz teamed up in the widening Armatech’s distance against Hawaiian Rock. Abuy started the third with a triple and scored five points, while Montano and Poquiz had six apiece with the latter drilling Armatech’s last three baskets in the third.

In the fourth, the other teammates of the trio also hit the board, as Armatech doubled up Hawaiian Rock, 29-13, en route to the 33-point win. Abuy top-scored for Armatech with his 15, while Montano and Poquiz also had double digits with 14 and 11, respectively. Seven other Armatech players totaled 45, outgunning the Top 2 scorers of Hawaiian Rock—Jack Palacios and Ronald Abaygar. Palacios nailed 18 points, while Abaygar added 12. Lilio Tiples had a quiet eight points and the rest of the team were held to one field goal each and combined for only 14 points.

First Game
Blue Haus 94 – Fernandez 20, Diaz 17, Santos 10, Palacios 10, Manabat 10, Berline 9, Factor 6, Moises 4.

Degree 74 – Jinang 20, Sampang 17, Ocampo 14, Ebuen 5, Surima 5, Jacob 2, Echavez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-16, 56-31, 77-47, 94-74.

Second Game
Armatech 91 – Abuy 15, Montano 14, Poquiz 11, Tobias 9, Pablo 9, Bartolo 8, Moreno 7, Ebuen 4, Malasarte 4, Tolentino 4, Gatdula 2, Park 2.

Hawaiian Rock 58 – Palacios 18, Abaygar 12, Tiples 8, Mateo 4, Guiang 4, Salazar 4, Dela Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-14, 34-30, 61-45, 91-58.