Makalaro Lang gains share of lead

Makalaro Lang joined idle Pasion De Amor on top of the team standings in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League after outclassing Red Rice, 67-57, in the nightcap last Saturday at the Navy Hill court.

Makalaro Lang played better in the second half to take the double-digit winning margin and gain a share of the top spot with Pasion De Amor. The co-leaders hold similar 2-0 records, while Red Rice is still winless after two games.

Makalaro Lang’s Errol Peredo pulls up for a jumper against Hard Kulangot’s Nolan Kultura during their game in the Blue Haus/IT&E caging last week at the Navy Hill court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Errol Peredo and Ivan Devero, who combined for more than half of Makalaro Lang’s total output in their debut win over Hard Kulangot, 74-61, again took the cudgels for their squad against the Darwin Barbo-led Red Rice. Devero scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half to make up for his so-so start in the first 20 minutes of play where he only knocked in two baskets. Peredo, on the other hand, was consistent with his offensive game, making 11 in the first half and adding 9 in the second to lead all scorers.

Peredo’s double figures in the first half kept Makalaro Lang in the game, as the team was behind by only a hair at halftime, 27-28. Peredo made two early baskets and then went cold midway in the opening half before closing out strong, drilling 6 of Makalaro Lang’s last 10 markers.

Red Rice got 4 straight points from Joel Saplan to end the first half with a shaky 1-point lead.

Red Rice eventually lost the driver’s seat as Barbo got little help from his teammates, while Peredo and Devero teamed up in towing Makalaro Lang to its second win in as many games.

Barbo led Red Rice’s losing cause with his 19 points, while Angelo Fernando chipped in 10.

Meanwhile, in the first game last Sunday, Kidlat also registered a 10-point winning margin against Wag Kang Pabebe, 73-63.

The opposing squads now have identical 1-1 records to tie Hard Kulangot and Oh My J for second to fifth place in the team standings.

The trio of Justin Zapanta, White Capalad, and Manolo Manalo worked together to give Kidlat its first win. Zapanta had a team-high 22 points, while Capalad and Manalo contributed 17 and 10, respectively. Zapanta and Capalad outgunned Wag Kang Pabebe from downtown with the Kidlat duo combining for seven triples against one each from Brendon Talania and Teddy Gil Orbeta.

Zapanta canned three straight triples and 8 consecutive points the closing minutes of the first half and ended the opening frame with 18 to lift Kidlat to a 41-36 halftime edge. Capalad sank the last basket for Kidlat in the first half, burying his second triple in the game. The Kidlat guard hit his first shot from beyond the arc for the team’s first basket in the match and he also nailed the squad’s last field goal from the 3-point area.

In related news, league organizers have decided to hold one game every Wednesday, starting tomorrow. Kidlat will face Makalaro at 5:30pm with the former hoping for back-to-back wins and the latter aiming to take the solo lead and stretch its streak to three.

SATURDAY

Makalaro Lang 67 – Peredo 20, Devero 18, Velasco 12, Moises 9, Buenabajo 6, Culala 2.

Red Rice 57 – Barbo 19, Fernando 10, Anasan 7, Hernandez 6, Saplan 6, Cabanas 4, Achas 4.

Scoring by halves: 27-28, 67-57.

SUNDAY

Kidlat 73 – Zapanta 22, Capalad 17, Manalo 10, Sevilla 8, Tengco 6, Hernandez 4, Garcia 4, Toribio 2.

Wag Kang Pabebe 63 – Talania 25, Devero 17, Orbeta 5, Woodson 4, Abadilla 4, Mina 3, Tolosa 2.

Scoring by halves: 41-36, 73-63.