Connie’s BBQ routs Light & Salt

Connie’s BBQ hammered Light & Salt, 98-79, in the curtain-raiser in the 2019 One Pacific Promotional Basketball League last Friday at the Civic Center Court in Susupe.

Connie’s BBQ played solid in the first two quarters to gain control of the match en route to their 19-point winning margin.

Ronald Esmores led Connie’s BBQ’s strong start, as his 8 markers in the opening period gave the team a 20-10 advantage. The lead ballooned to 22, 50-28, as Frank Bongalan picked up where Esmores left off after firing 11 points, 6 of them came from downtown. Nelson Cabang and Bobby Dela Cruz also stepped up in the second quarter with the former adding 11 points and the latter making two triples and contributing 8.

The 20-plus point margin in the first half was enough for Connie’s BBQ to negate the better offensive performance of Light & Salt in the second half. Light & Salt outgunned Connie’s BBQ in the second and third frames, but the latter was still able to hit rally-halting baskets to keep its safe distance.

Esmores paced Connie’s BBQ with his 21 points, while Cabang and Bongalan chipped in 13 and 12, respectively, and Kerwin Dayao and Austin Camacho also finished in double figures with 10 each.

Rommel Usi led Light & Salt after making 24 markers, while his older brother, Mico, tallied 15.

Meanwhile, Saipan Adventure downed Gilas Batangas in the second game last Friday, 59-51.

Saipan Adventure held Gilas Batang to single digit in scoring in the first and third periods to notch its third win in the Tsingtao Beer-sponsored league.

Saipan Adventure doubled up Gilas Batangas in the opening canto, 19-8, and after the latter cut the deficit to 5 at the break, 26-31, the eventual winning team limited its foe to 8 markers in the penultimate frame for a 48-34 advantage.

It was cruise control for Saipan Adventure from thereon.

Jun Alipio top-scored for Saipan Adventure with his 15 points, while Erwin Lumamlan had 10 for Gilas Batang.

First Game
Connie’s BBQ 98—Esmores 21, Cabang 13, Bongalan 12, Dayao 10, Camacho 10, Dela Cruz 8, Rodriguex 5, Centina 4, Echavez 4, Deleon Guerrero 3, Danao 2.
Light & Salt 79—R. Usi 24, M. Usi 15, Natividad 15, Agustin 11, Laxamana 7, Tamin 3, Oblimaga 3, Embile 3.
Scoring by quarters: 20-10, 50-28, 77-56, 98-79.

Saipan Adventure 59—Alipio 15, Almario 8, Flores 7, Maesa 6, Morales 5, Ocampo 5, Leomo 4, Mungcal 3, Singca 2.
Gilas Batang 51—Lumamlan 10, Ege 8, Alviz 8, Dacumos 8, Hernandez 4, Acosta 2, Daluyen 2.
Scoring by quarters: 18-9, 31-26, 48-34, 59-51