Joshua, Gideon win season debuts

Joshua’s Alain Nunez is fouled by Isaiah’s Mike Manalang, third right, during the first half of their game in the Genesis Cup last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Gideon and Daniel got off to a good start after prevailing in the opening games in the 5th Genesis Cup Christian Churches Inter-Color Basketball League last Sunday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Gideon outclassed Daniel, 61-50, in the curtain-raiser, while Joshua topped Isaiah, 62-54, in the second match.

Bradley Demapan led Gideon’s season-debut win as he scored a team-high 14 points. He drew enough support from his teammates, as six other Gideon players contributed at least 5 points apiece. Greg De Leon, Rolando Balte, and Rey Darag chipped in 8 apiece, Brendon Perez added 7, and Kym Cheng and Allan Chavez tallied 6 and 5, respectively.

Eight Gideon players made it to the board in the first half, while only four scored for Daniel. Balte, Demapan, and De Leon teamed up for more than half of Gideon’s output in the opening 20 minutes of play to lift their team to a 31-26 halftime lead.

Gideon then stretched their advantage to as much as 16 in the first half as it continued to spread the wealth, while only Marlo Ibanez and Lawrence Borja canned more than one field goal for Daniel. Demapan, who had 6 markers in the first half, added 8 more, while Cheng tallied all his 6 markers in the last frame and Perez and Darag had 5 each to hand Gideon the double-digit winning margin.

Ibanez paced Daniel’s losing cause after registering 15 markers, while Jonathan Ibajan posted 13.

In the second game, Joshua controlled its game against Isaiah midway in the first half and hung tough in the second to take the 8-point victory.

Joshua was just ahead by 2, 21-19, with about 10 minutes gone by in the first half when the quartet of Mark Puno, Jay Nunag, Alain Nunez, and Alvin Daluyen joined forces in extending the lead to 15 at the break, 40-25.

Puno sizzled for 13 points in the first half, while Nunag logged 9, and Nunez and Daluyen had 5 apiece. Noel Puno and Abbi Sandig were the other scorers for Joshua in the first half, making 4 and 2, respectively.

As for Isaiah’s side, Oliver Gragasin and Michael Manalang combined for 17 in the first half, but these were not enough to boost the team’s chances of winning its first game. Isaiah then tried to mount a comeback in the second half with its good 3-point shooting and the arrival of Ramsa Tenepere, but fell short as Nunag, Nunez, and Mart Puno hit timely baskets to half their foes’ rally.

Puno ended up leading all scorers with his 18 markers, while Nunag and Nunez also finished in twin digits with 15 and 11, respectively. Gragasin had 17 to pace Isaiah, which drew 16 from Manalang.

Meanwhile, four other teams are competing in this year’s Genesis Cup and they will have their season debuts this Sunday. Defending champion Caleb will face Samuel at 2:15pm, while Jeremiah and Ezekiel will square off in the second game at 4:15pm.

First Game
Gideon 61— Demapan 14, De Leon 8, Balte 8, Darag 8, Perez 7, Cheng 6, Chavez 5, Gatdula 4, Sacdalan 3.
Daniel 50 — Ibanez 15, Ibajan 13, Borja 8, Guevarra 7, Rabago 3, Calibo 2, Abe 2.
Scoring by halves: 31-26, 61-50.

Second Game
Joshua 62 — M. Puno 18, Nunag 15, Nunez 11, N. Puno 8, Daluyen 6, Sandig 4.
Isaiah 54 — Gragasin 17, Manalang 16, Tenepere 7, Cabaobas 4, Huddleston 4, David 4, Santos 2.
Scoring by halves: 40-25, 62-54.