Double victories for Rollers 1

Rollers 1’s Dalton Dancoe, center, is tightly guarded by Vibes’ Travis Eubanks, right, and Kiko Gamab during the first half of their game in the U25 division of the TanHoldings holiday caging last Monday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Rollers 1 triumphed in two division games in the 2016 TanHoldings Christmas Basketball Tournament, while the Ol’Aces 1 won their debut in the U25 age group last week at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

In the boys U16 division, Rollers 1 whipped Gen Cup last Monday, 71-40, to take the solo lead in its group as it now has a 3-0 record. Gen Cup is at the bottom of the team standings in the eight-squad field after falling to a 0-2 card.

Three Rollers 1 players scored in double figures in the team’s 31-point victory over Gen Cup. Jude Tengco led the way with his 16 points, while A.J. Hudkins and Matthew Richardson recorded 13 and 11, respectively. Richardson and Tengco had 9 markers apiece in the first half, lifting Rollers 1 to a twin-digit advantage at the break, 32-22.

Rollers 1 went on to pad its lead in the second half with Angelo Factor anchoring the breakaway after firing 7 of the squad’s first 9 points in that period. The rest of Rollers 1 players also hit the board in the second half to complete its domination of Gen Cup.

While Rollers 1 had an easy win in the boys U16 division, the squad labored for victory in the U25 division after outlasting Vibes, 51-47.

June Alipio top-scored in the close win after drilling 22 points. He had 8 straight markers in the latter part of the second half to keep Rollers 1 in the lead and answer Matt Duenas’ successive baskets. Duenas finished with 23 points in a losing cause.

Alipio and Duenas were on top of their game early with the former knocking in Rollers 1’s first 9 points and the latter tallying 10 to help Vibes stay in the match after the first half, 19-21.

Vibes then managed to grab the lead early in the second, 24-23, but Rollers 1 regrouped with Alipio drawing help from Luizi Reyes and Aaron Ogumoro to offset the solid production of Duenas. Ogumoro nailed Rollers 1’s last field goal—a triple—to seal the squad’s debut win.

Meanwhile, the Ol’Aces 1 also prevailed in its first game in the U25 division after crushing the Talaabwogh Star last Dec. 28, 62-37.

The Ol’Aces 1, which was ahead by only 7 after the first half, 24-17, broke away in the second after spreading the wealth in the final 20 minutes of play. Four Ol’Aces 1 players recorded at least three field goals apiece in the second half and three more also hit the board.

In the end, three Ol’Aces 1 players scored in double figures with Josh Andrews logging 12 points and Sid Quan and Melvin Sakisat contributing 10 each. Nak Nakashima and Christopher Tadeo combined for 12 more points for the Ol’Aces 1.

Joseph Lifoifoi paced Talaabwogh with his 13 markers, while Ace Evangelista chipped in 11.

U16 DIVISION
Rollers 1 71 – Tengco 16, Hudkins 13, Richardson 11, Factor 9, Quitugua 8, Kisa 4, Dela Cruz 3, Pangelinan 3, Valencia 2, Cobacha 2.
Gen Cup 40 – Elchico 13, Cai 12, Cruz 9, Sacdalan 6, De Leon 2.
Scoring by halves: 32-22, 71-40.

U25 DIVISION
Dec. 28 Game
Ol’Aces 1 62 – Andrews 12, Quan 10, Sakisat 10, Nakashima 8, Tadeo 4, Palino 4, Sablan 3, Olopai 3.
Talaabwogh 37 – Jo. Lifoifoi 13, Evangelista 11, Lieto 4, Quitugua 4, Ja. Lifoifoi 2, Aguon 2, Concepcion 1.
Scoring by halves: 24-17, 62-37.

Jan. 2 Game
Rollers 1 51 – Alipio 22, Reyes 9, Ogumoro 9, Factor 4, Dancoe 3, J. Pangelinan 3, Mendiola 3, Babauta 1, T. Pangelinan 1.
Vibes 47 – Duenas 23, Santos 9, Macahito 3, Tiamzon 2, Eubanks 2, Vivero 2, Deleon Guerrero 2, Tudela 2, Mancao 1.
Scoring by halves: 21-18, 51-47.