Laguna breaks into win column

 Laguna/Twinkle’s/Erika’s barged into the win column in the 2012 UFO Masters Budweiser Cup after prevailing over Batangas/Fong’s Bakery, 75-64, last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Laguna, which dropped its debut last Sunday against defending champion MDX/Armatech, 78-95, held Batangas scoreless for more than four minutes in the fourth and final period for its first win.

Only one point separated the opposing teams midway in the fourth period, 59-58, after Laguna’s Hae Jun Park completed a 3-point play before Batangas went on silent mode. Jun Abedes, who made Batangas’ last basket before the drought, missed his last nine attempts, while Park, Sonny Ebuen, and Henry Manipon joined forces in a 10-0-run for Laguna’s double-digit lead, 69-58, only 1:34 left on the clock.

Batangas continued to struggle on offense in the ensuing plays before making three field goals in the final 43 seconds of the fourth canto where the game was already in the bag for Laguna.

Manipon paced Laguna with his 17 points, while Park added 13. Abedes had 20 markers for Batangas, which absorbed its second loss after three matches despite leading its foe in the first half.

Joseph Galulu also finished in double figures for Batangas with 16, 10 of them came in the first period for their 21-17 advantage. The lead went up to 5 at the break, 37-32, with Abedes adding 5 and his four other teammates also scoring.

Batangas hung on to the lead until the last three minutes of the third quarter where Laguna connected on three straight triples to grab the driver’s seat, 54-51, entering the fourth. It was a seesaw battle in the first five minutes of the final canto before Batangas blinked in the last five, allowing Laguna to notch its first win.

MDX 85, MAFEA 57

In the second game, MDX/Armatech improved to a 3-0 record after another blowout win.

The defending champion, which won by 17 points against Laguna last weekend, this time took a 28-point victory over the hapless MAFEA/CMI, thanks to MDX’s guards combo-James Abuy, Martin Moreno, and Ferdie Tobias.

Abuy scored 18 points, including 12 from beyond the arc, while Moreno and Tobias chipped in 17 and 14, respectively. With Abuy waxing hot from downtown, MDX outgunned MAFEA in the 3-point shooting, 7-2. Moreno made two triples, while Yosh Gabaldon drilled one.

Abuy drained two early triples and finished with 10 in the first period that ended with MDX already on top by 13, 30-17. MDX were never threatened from thereon.

Mike Surima led MAFEA’s losing cause with his 20 points. MAFEA fell to a 0-2 card

First Game

MDX/Armatech 85 – Abuy 18, Moreno 17, Tobias 14, Malasarte 8, Trajano 7, Crisostomo 5, Montano 4, Canedo 4, Gabaldon 4, Poquiz 2, Berline 1.

MAFEA/CMI 57 – Surima 20, Paraiso 8, Malicden 8, Leong 8, Factor 4, Sevilla 4, Jastillana 3, Garcia 2.

Scoring by quarters: 30-17, 49-31, 68-45, 85-57.

Second Game

Laguna/Twinkle’s/Erika’s 75 – Manipon 17, Park 13, Ebuen 9, Villegas 8, Lansang 6, Tabora 6, Salazar 5, Guerrero 4, Pablo 3, Pangilinan 2.

Batangas/Fong’s Bakery 64 – Abedes 20, Galulu 16, Bernardo 10, Alano 6, Alejandro 4, Buniag 3, Jacob 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-21, 32-37, 54-51, 75-64.