Close wins in UFO Docomo Pacific Cup

  Three teams had to sweat it out to come away with victories in the 2012 UFO Docomo Pacific Cup, last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, MDX/Armatech slipped past SMF/DYS, 72-70, to gain a share of the lead in the U17 division with the latter. MDX and SMF hold similar 2-1 records at the start of the second round of the double-round robin division.

The two-point win avenged MDX/Armatech’s season-opening loss to SMF/DYS, who routed the former in their first meeting on May 20, 82-30.

In their second encounter, an over confident SMF/DYS seemed headed for another victory as it led MDX/Armatech at the end of each of the first three quarters only to collapse in the fourth and payoff canto.

SMF/DYS, which was in front after three period, 59-54, lost the lead and the game as it was held to four field goals in the finale frame with only D.J. Ong and C.J. Morales making more than 2 points for the team.

In contrast, MDX/Armatech had four different players drilling at least 4 points each. Mark Ogasawara nailed 4 early points, while Dicky Feria, Braylan Floresca, and Karl Aldan combined for the team’s last 12 markers. Art Borromeo scored the other 2 points for MDX/Armatech, which outgunned SMF/DYS in the fourth, 18-11, to steal the win.

Ogasawara top-scored for MDX/Armatech with his 14 points, while Jun Fidelino paced SMF/DYS with his 13, but was limited to two free throws in the fourth period.

MDX/Mariana Resort 62, Hi-Five 54

In the first game in the U20 division, MDX/Mariana Resort also had a single-digit winning margin over Hi-Five/POWER to improve to a 3-1 record.

Hi-Five/POWER (1-1) threatened MDX/Mariana Resort in the third period, cutting the deficit to a hair, 44-45, but the latter hang in there with a balance offense in the payoff frame. All six MDX/Mariana Resort players scored in the fourth quarter with Eugene Manglona nailing 5, Ezra Caro adding 4, and the four others contributing at least one basket each.

Hi-Five/POWER fell short in its comeback bid after hitting only four field goals in the finale frame. Only three players lit up the scoreboard for Hi-Five/POWER in the fourth canto.

Caro led MDX/Mariana Resort with his 23 points, while Manglona chipped in 18. Reynald Cabaltica had 14 for Hi-Five/POWER, firing nine in their third-quarter breakaway and scoring 5 straight early in the fourth, but was silenced in the closing minutes of the fourth period. Frank Macahito, who already had 10 after the third frame, also went cold in the fourth, as he was held to 3 points.

AON/Boholano 72, DeMolay 70

The second game in the U20 division was decided by 2 points with AON/Boholano clipping DeMolay.

The win was only the first in three games for AON/Boholano, while DeMolay absorbed its second loss in as many matches.

John Capuyon Jr. scored all but two of AON/Boholano’s 19 points in the fourth quarter to lift his team to the close victory over the winless DeMolay. Kobee Mendoza logged the other 2 points of AON/Boholano in the fourth period. Capuyon went on to finish a game-high 28 points, while Mendoza also had double figures with 12.

AON/Boholano led by 7 at the end of the third, 53-47, but DeMolay, behind the baskets of Genesis Mamaril and Julienne Gotengco, kept on closing in. The two DeMolay players combined for 16 points, but still could not power their team to a come-from-behind win, as Capuyon was there to save the day for AON/Boholano. Capuyon knocked down AON/Boholano’s first 12 points in the fourth before Mendoza ended the run with a 2-pointer, and then the former had another scoring spree, firing the team’s last 5 points.

First Game

MDX/Armatech 72 – Aldan 23, Ogasawara 14, Feria 12, Floresca 9, Deocares 8, Borromeo 4.

SMF/DYS 70 – Fidelino 13, Ong 12, Darag 12, Iglecias 10, Morales 8, Admana 4, Venus 2, Venezuela 2.

Scoring by quarters: 11-15, 26-36, 54-59, 72-70.

Second Game

MDX/Mariana Resort 62 – Caro 23, Manglona 18, Cadiang 6, Ano 6, Palacios 5, De Leon 2.

Hi-Five/POWER 54 – Cabaltica 14, F. Macahito 13, Urbano 7, Cristobal 6, Atalig 6, Fleming 2, Aldan 2, G. Macahito 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-15, 34-26, 45-44, 62-54.

Third Game

AON/Boholano 72 – Capuyon 28, Mendoza 12, Escalada 9, Javier 7, Regis 7, Palacios 5, De Leon 3, Hemley 2, Sanarez 2.

DeMolay 70 – Gotengco 15, Yap 11, Mamaril 10, Factor 8, Madreo 8, Mendiola 7, Ogumoro 6, Leung 3.

Scoring by quarters: 13-12, 31-30, 53-46, 72-70.