Batang Bear Brand splits games

Batang Bear Brand’s Hal Spott, center, unloads an uncontested shot in front of Tropang Ridhors’ Ken Viray, left, and Junar Guiab during the second quarter of their game in the IT&E-sponsored Ali’i Blue Haus caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Batang Bear Brand posted mixed results in the pair of matches it played in the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League over the weekend at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Batang Bear Brand defeated Empe Light Blue last Sunday, 80-70, making up for its 68-73 overtime loss to Tropang Ridhors last Saturday.

Against Empe Light, Batang Bear Brand got at least 20 points each from three players to improve its record to a 5-3. Big man Hal Spott scored 21 points, while Jeff Che added 20—the same output Elmer Esdrelon registered when he suited up anew for Batang Bear Brand after missing last Saturday’s game.

Esdrelon and Spott combined for 16 points in the second quarter, while Joseph Achas chipped in 7 off the bench, helping Batang Bear Brand bounce back from a slow start and grab the lead from Empe Light, 40-31. Batang Bear Brand was behind after the first period, 14-17.

After taking the driver’s seat, Batang Bear Brand did a good job protecting its lead in the second half to hand Empe Light its sixth loss in nine games. Che put the finishing touches on Batang Bear Brand’ s 10-point victory against Empe Light after knocking down four triples in the fourth quarter.

Meanwhile, in last Saturday’s game, Tropang Ridhors snapped a two-game losing skid after nosing out Batang Bear Brand in overtime.

Sam Fernandez drilled a triple, while Junar Guiab nailed Ridhors’ two other field goals in the extra five minutes of play to pull off the win. Batang Bear Brand, which led in the majority of the match, lost in the homestretch after making only two free throws in the extension period.

Ken Viray top-scored for Ridhors with his 24 points, while Guiab added 22. John Paul Morales and Fernandez also finished in twin digits with 15 and 10, respectively, while Spott had 36 markers on a losing effort for Batang Bear Brand.

Sunday Game
Batang Bear Brand 80 — Spott 21, Esdrelon 20, Che 20, Ariar 8, Achas 7, Flores 4.

Empe Light 70 — Rabasto 20, Gunnacao 13, Gallardo 12, Reyes 10, Peredo 6, Tengco 4, Espinosa 2.
Scoring by quarters: 14-17, 40-31, 56-50, 80-70.

Saturday Game
Tropang Ridhors 73 — Viray 24, Guiab 22, Morales 15, Fernandez 10, Claveria 2.

Batang Bear Brand 68 — Spott 36, Che 14, Ariar 8, Flores 7, Lansang 3.

Scoring by quarters: 19-28, 36-39, 49-50, 66-66, 73-68 (OT).