Bayani, MDX draw 1st blood in youth caging

Bayani/DYS and MDX/Mariana Resort & Spa won their respective debuts in the Docomo Pacific Cup as the United Filipino Organization’s 10th Inter-Organizational Basketball League got going yesterday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Bayani/DYS made mincemeat of MDX/Armatech in the first match in the 14-and-under division, 88-30.

Both teams visibly had the opening jitters as Bayani and MDX players misfired left and right.

A late-quarter push, ignited by John Cano’s five points, allowed Bayani to seize an 18-6 lead going into the second.

John Darag then scattered nine of his 17 points in the second as Bayani broke the game wide open, leading 37-20 at the half.

There was not much MDX could do on offense as it sputtered to score only five points in the third. D.J. March Ong and Roy Venezuela, meanwhile, combined for eight points in the third and helped Bayani to a commanding 56-25 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The payoff period was essentially garbage time, as Bayani continued to lord it over MDX and won the match by a whopping 52 points.

Ong paced Bayani with 18 markers, while Darag added 17. Jason Iglecias and the normally prolific C.J. Morales added 8 and 7 points in support.

It was seemingly a day of wins for Bayani, as the team earlier won the Best Muse and Best Uniform competitions.

In the second game, MDX clobbered SIP/Flor Miranda, 88-74, as four its players hit double figures.

It was a close first quarter with Adrian Palacios’ 9 points helping MDX to a 19-14 lead.

Ezra Caro then pumped in eight of his 15 total points in the second quarter as MDX managed to put some distance between them and SIP and took a 42-28 advantage at the break.

Rodney Sacramento tried to rally SIP at the start of the second half, firing eight markers as his team managed to whittle down MDX lead to 11 points, 60-49, heading into the final stanza.

But MDX wouldn’t be denied as Melvin Cadiang picked up the scoring in the final 10 minutes to lead his team to the 14-point victory.

Efren Manglona paced MDX with 22 points, while Cadiang added 20. Palacios and Caro also scored 16 and 15, respectively underlying the team’s balanced offensive attack.

John Darag scored 22 points and Sacramento 20 in a losing effort for SIP.

The Docomo Cup opening was supposed to take place at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe, but UFO officials moved it to the newly renovated Ada Gym due to rain.

The masters division of the UFO caging also took place yesterday afternoon, but results were not available as of press time.

Bayani/DYS 82 – Ong 18, Darag 17, Iglecias 8, Espinosa 8, Morales 7, Venezuela 6, De Luna 5, Cano 5, Admana 2.

MDX/Armatech 30 – Borromeo 8, Francisco 6, Cudia 6, Feria 5, Cadua 3, Malasarte 2, Deocares 1.

Scoring by quarters: 18-6, 37-20, 56-25, 82-30.

MDX 88 – Manglona 22, Cadiang 20, Palacios 16, Caro 15, Mettao 6, Ano 5, De Leon 4.

SIP 74 – Darag 22, Sacramento 20, Metran 9, Francisco 8, Dela Rosa 4, Maranan 4, Litulumar 4, Salas 3.

Scoring by quarters: 19-14, 42-28, 60-49, 88-74.