Blue Haus gains share of lead

Blue Haus moved up to the top spot in the West Group of the open division of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League following an impressive 86-70 victory against Pacific Islands Club last Monday at the San Antonio court.

Blue Haus’ Brendon Talania, left, challenges the defense of Pacific Islands Club’s Jake Quitugua during the fourth quarter of their open division game in the San Antonio caging last Monday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Blue Haus now has a 4-1 record to share the lead with GMJ/IKKI, while PIC dropped to second place with its 4-2 mark and had its three-game winning run snapped. The co-leaders, PIC, and Cholos (3-2) are the four teams fighting for the No. 1 spot and the outright semis seat in the West Group.

The PIC-Blue Haus tiff was expected to be a close game, but turned out as a one-sided match with the latter pressing all the right buttons to end the former’s winning streak. Blue Haus played tough defense all throughout the match, neutralizing PIC’s top gunners. On offense, the winning squad spread the wealth and had good ball movement and manpower rotation.

Blue Haus limited James Abuy to 3 points off his lone triple in the match and held Jake Quitugua to 4 markers. Abuy had 19 points in their 92-50 rout of Armatech, while Quitugua tallied 12. Jack Aranda led PIC with his 14 points, but most of them came when Blue Haus had already established a big lead. Darwin Barbo also finished in twin digits with 11, but he had no field goals in the second half and was held to 4 free throws.

PIC’s key players bled for points, as Blue Haus cut the passing lanes and challenged every shot from its opponents. PIC played so bad on the offensive end that Reymark Castro even missed a layup on a fastbreak play with no defender guarding him.

In contrast, Blue Haus’ points came from all corners and multiple players, as the team patiently ran its offense to find the best-percentage shots. Marlon De Dios and Angelo Fernando top-scored for Blue Haus with 17 points apiece, Brendon Talania chipped in 12, and Elmer Esdrelon contributed 11. Four other Blue Haus players combined for 25 more markers.

Esdrelon and De Dios nailed 7 markers apiece in the second quarter to help Blue Haus pad its 23-15 lead to a 50-29 advantage at the break. Blue Haus kept their momentum in the second half en route to the 16-point winning margin.

GMJ/IKKI 78, KB Market 69
GMJ/IKKI is still unbeaten in the masters division after outclassing KB Market.

GMJ/IKKI improved to a 5-0 record to move two games ahead of fellow undefeated MJD/GPPC (3-0). Armatech (3-1), Erika’s Catering/Ferrera Builders (3-2), VM Production (2-2), KB Market (2-3), CES Electronics (1-5), Blue Haus (0-1), and Maplas (0-5) complete the field. The Top 8 squads will advance to the playoffs, while the last finisher will be eliminated.

Four GMJ/IKKI players scored in double figures to keep the team’s unblemished mark. Allison Dizon logged 13 points, Bernard Montano had 12, while Dennis Cortez and Jun Pantaleon registered 11 and 10, respectively.

Montano made 6 of his total markers in the third period to help GMJ/IKKI widen the gap, 62-54, after his team led by only a hair at halftime, 42-41. GMJ/IKKI remained in the driver’s seat in the fourth, as Montano’s teammates stepped in, while only Peter Camacho made multiple baskets for KB Market.

Camacho led all scorers with his 27 points.

Open Division
Blue Haus 86 – De Dios 17, Fernando 17, Talania 12, Esdrelon 11, Berline 8, Demapan 6, Manolo 6, Moises 5, Capalad 2.

PIC 70 – Aranda 14, Barbo 11, Espinosa 9, Galloway 6, Feria 6, Rabasto 5, Castro 4, Eroch 4, Quitugua 4, Abuy 3, Hambros 2, Babauta 1.

Scoring by quarters: 23-15, 50-29, 65-51, 86-70.

Masters Division
GMJ/IKKI 78 – Dizon 13, Montano 12, Cortez 11, Pantaleon 10, Saplan 8, Binuya 8, Sedillo 6, Montes 6, Balgos 2, Demapan 2.

KB Market 69 – Camacho 27, Umali 14, Pangelinan 8, Renguul 4, Osias 4, Ayuyu 4, Lansang 3, Puri 2, Garcia 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-15, 42-41, 62-54, 78-69.