Cuadro CP hands Ali’i Blue Haus first loss

Cuadro PS’ Jun Estolas, right, challenges the long jumper of Ali’i Blue’s Haus Elmer Esdrelon during the second quarter of their game in the San Antonio summer caging last Wednesday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Cuadro CP snapped Ali’i Blue Haus’ winning streak after pulling off a 94-91 victory in the second game in the 2017 San Antonio Summer Basketball League last Wednesday night at the San Antonio court.

Frank Ferrer made the dagger in the closing seconds of the thrilling match, recovering from a fumble and knocking down the game-winning triple from top of the key. After Ferrer’s trey, Ali’i Blue Haus was left with 3 seconds to attempt a shot, but the time was not enough as it even had problems passing the ball off the inbound play.

The loss to CP Cuadro came after Ali’i Blue Haus swept its first four games. Despite the defeat, Ali’i Blue Haus is still at the top of the team standings in the 12-squad field, but is just slightly ahead of JSN/Cell Pro and Stephen’s Pawnshop, which hold similar 4-2 records. Cuadro PS is in the middle of the pack with its 4-4 slate.

CP Cuadro was saved by Ferrer’s triple after the squad bungled a double-digit lead in the first half. CP Cuadro CP took a 50-39 halftime lead after outgunning Ali’i Blue Haus in the last five minutes of the second quarter, 24-9. Ferrer, Joy Dayrit, and Marvin Rabauliman teamed up in the surge for Cuadro CP, combining for 17 points to turn a 21-22 deficit to an 11-point advantage.

Ali’i Blue Haus, which led by as much as 8 points in the second quarter, lost the driver’s seat at halftime, as it was held to three field goals past the halfway mark of that period.

Ali’i Blue Haus then tried to mount a comeback in the third quarter behind Errol Peredo, Brendon Talania, Elmer Esdrelon, and Darwin Barbo and managed to slice the deficit to single digits, 65-70, entering the final canto.

In the fourth quarter, Ali’i Blue Haus continued its uphill climb and was engaged in a seesaw battle with Cuadro PS before Ferrer drilled the biggest shot of the game to pull off an upset against their favored foe.

Meanwhile, Kagman Elites finally barged into the win column after crushing BSI, 82-62.

Kagman, which lost its first four games, built an early double-digit lead, 26-10, and was never threatened after that en route to the 20-point winning margin.

Ray Babauta gave Kagman a good start, as he buried three straight triples and added one more late in the first. Babauta then slowed down in the second quarter, but Kagman would not mind, as Jon Limes stepped up and also knocked in long shot to up their lead to 44-23.

Kagman went on to protect the double-digit advantage in the second, as Trevor Ogumoro and Tom Pangelinan’s took turns in leading the team’s offense to end their losing skid.