SIP snaps losing skid in Docomo Cup

Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense/Barney’s barged into the win column in the U20 division of the 2012 UFO Docomo Pacific Cup after routing Boholano/AON, 91-71, last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

An 11-0 start was all SIP needed to beat the young and inexperience Boholano crew and recover from two losses early in the six-team league. Boholano, which is bannered by members of the CNMI Team 2 that played in last month’s Micronesian Basketball U17 Tournament is still winless after two matches.

Rodney Sacramento scored seven of those 11 points, as he walked away with fastbreak layups, capitalizing on Boholano’s careless passing. Turnovers were not recorded in the game, but the disorganized Boholano committed more than 10 just in the first quarter.

By the end of the first period, SIP threatened to break away, taking an early double-digit lead, 26-12. It was all SIP from thereon, as Boholano continued to struggle with its ball movement and to make matters worse, it muffed several easy shots at the paint.

SIP’s 14-point advantage was stretched to as much as 25 in the third canto, before Boholano made a rally midway in the third to move within 14, 41-55, but the former had a 12-2 windup in the last three minutes of that canto to pull away anew.

John Darag paced SIP with his 19 points and his three other teammates also scored in double figures. Mike Yap and John John Capuyon had 15 and 12, respectively, for Boholano.

In the other U20 game, Bayani/DYS thwarted MDX/Mariana Resort’s fourth-quarter ally to improve to a 2-0 record.

Bayani held MDX to 10 points in the third period to turn a 34-27 lead to a 52-37 advantage, entering the fourth canto. MDX tried to recover in the fourth, outgunning Bayani, 26-19, but fell short as the former’s Jaymark De Guzman, Chris Mizer, and Jack Aranda canned game-saving baskets in the end. The trio combined for Bayani’s last 11 points with De Guzman scoring five straight, Aranda making a 3-point play and Mizer tallying the team’s last three points.

De Guzman finished with 13, Mizer added 11, and Emerson Feria and Nevin Salem chipped in 10 apiece in Bayani’s balance offense.

Eugene Manglona had 15 for MDX, while Sahj Hossain and Adrian Palacios contributed 12 and 10, respectively. Melvin Cadiang, who had double figures in MDX’s first two wins, was the missing link in their third match, logging only four points and scoreless in the first three quarters.

The lone game in the U14 division had MDX/Armatech whipping VisMinda/Hi-Five.

The win was only the first in two games for MDX, while VisMinda fell to a 0-2 card.

MDX controlled the match right at the opening buzzer, taking a 21-9 lead, and never gave VisMinda a chance to launch a comeback.

Karl Aldan top-scored for MDX/Armatech with his 22 points, while Braylan Floresca and Mark Ogasawara fired 20 and 10, respectively. Seven other MDX players made it to the scoreboard against only six from the depleted VisMinda crew. Jethro Cruz paced VisMinda with his 13 markers, while Jordan Butcher-Wade made 11.

MDX/Armatech 88 – Aldan 22, Floresca 20, Ogasawara 10, Borromeo 6, Deocares 6, Cadua 6, Francisco 5, Feria 5, Cudia 4, Cobacha 2.

VisMinda/Hi-Five 45 – Cruz 13, Butcher 11, Diyco 9, Sabangan 7, Pangelinan 5, Lucido 3.

Scoring by quarters: 21-9, 33-19, 64-30, 88-45.

Bayani/DYS 71 – De Guzman 13, Mizer 11, Salem 10, Feria 10, Mariano 6, Alegre 6, Aranda 5, Tudela 4, Villanueva 2.

MDX/Mariana Resort 63 – Manglona 15, Hossain 12, Palacios 10, Ano 7, Caro 4, Mettao 4, Cadiang 4, Deleon Guerrero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-12, 34-27, 52-37, 71-63.

SIP/Barney’s 91 – Darag 19, Vertudez 12, Moran 11, Sacramento 10, Francisco 7, Salas 6, Dela Rosa 6, Oreola 4, Maranan 4.

Boholano/AON 71 – Yap 15, Capuyon 12, Javier 9, Sanarez 9, De Leon 6, Lapuz 4, Escalada 4, Palacios 3, Villagomez 2.
Scoring by quarters: 26-12, 44-29, 67-43, 91-71.