Sunrisers rout Smart Cagers in DLX/Miller Lite caging

The Sunrisers cruised to their third win in four games in the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity/Miller Lite Basketball Invitational Friendship League after whipping Smart Cagers, 88-72, in the lone match completed last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketbal Court.

Pete Lizama anchored the easy win with his 26 points, making most of them off fastbreak layups, as the depleted Smart Cagers were a step or two slow in going back on defense. Lizama had a good supporting crew, drawing 47 points from four of his teammates. Shooters Josh Sablan and Preston Basa chipped in 16 and 12, respectively, Jawn Joyner added 10, and Walter Mendez contributed nine. Big men Mel Manibusan and Charlie Peters combined for 10, while Chuck Deleon Guerrero logged three to complete the Sunrisers’ balance scoring.

Only three players scored in double figures for Smart Cagers, who absorbed their second straight loss and dropped to a 1-3 record. Errol Peredo exploded for 31 markers, Edwin Santos and Marlon De Dios had 18 and 12, respectively, and the rest of the team totaled only nine. The Smart Cagers missed Pete Iguel, while Rommel Usi played only in the second half and missed all his shots, including several triples in the fourth quarter.

While Smart Cagers struggled on offense, the Sunrisers were fired up early in the game, making 26 points against the former’s only nine. Lizama drilled the Sunrisers’ first three baskets and finished the opening quarter with 10 points, while Josh Sablan and Basa had five each and drained one triple apiece to give their team an early double-digit margin.

The Sunrisers continued to pull away in the next two quarters, as Lizama continued to toy around with the defense of Smart Cagers and his teammates also stepping up, hitting jumpers and undergoal stabs. By the end of the third period, the Sunrisers were ahead by 21, 70-49.

Then in the fourth quarter, Smart Cagers behind Peredo made one final push for a comeback, but managed to move only within 12 points, 63-75. Lizama, Mendez, and Josh Sablan teamed up in a short 8-0 run to stop Smart Cagers’ rally.

Meanwhile, Mobil’s last two games were rained-out, leaving the team with only one completed match. Mobil’s game against Blue Haus about two weeks ago was also stalled and will be played for five more minutes.

Mobil faced Shirley’s Coffee Shop last Saturday and was ahead in the fourth quarter, 63-57, when the game was called off due to rain with still 5:53 left on the clock.

Then last Monday after the Sunrisers beat Smart Cagers, Mobil dueled Andhok’s Grille and the match was also suspended due to rain at the 4:11 mark of the second period. Andhok’s was on top, 30-25, and the game will resume on a later date with the leading team in possession.
[B] Sunrisers 88[/B] – Lizama 26, Jos. Sablan 16, Basa 12, Joyner 10, Mendez 9, Peters 6, Manibusan 4, Deleon Guerrero 3.
[B] Smart Cagers 72[/B] – Peredo 31, Santos 18, De Dios 12, Dayrit 4, Rivera 3, Gamboa 2.
[B] Scoring by quarters: [/B] 26-9, 43-31, 70-49, 88-72.