MDX out-steadies Fong’s in masters opening

  Martin Moreno has been plying his trade in the masters league since 2002 and he’s never missed a beat since.

Case in point was last Sunday’s opening of the Budweiser Cup-Masters League of the United Filipino Organization Basketball League, where the high-leaping guard scored 20 points to lead MDX/Armetch to a 72-63 victory over Fong’s/Batangas Blades at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 5’4” Moreno, who still lays the ball up with two hands, was his vintage self right from the get-go as he scored eight points to help MDX open a 23-13 lead in the first quarter.

He pumped in only 3 markers in the second quarter, but did get some help as twin towers-6’3” centers Bruce Berline and Art Trajano-scored 8 points together and the Armatech-backed squad hiked its lead to 14 points, 44-30, at intermission.

Rugged frontliner Amor Casabuena and point forward Jun Abedes tried to rally Fong’s back in the third, as the duo combined for 8 points. But their effort only managed to trim their deficit to 11 points, 45-56, with one quarter to go.

Moreno matched his 4-point third quarter production in the fourth, but luckily MDX also found scoring from Trajano, point guard Ferdie Tobias, and sharpshooter James Abuy as they held on to the 9-point win.

Trajano finished with 16 points to backstop Moreno, while six other MDX players contributed 5 or more points in the win.

Abedes top-scored for Fong’s with 19, while Romero Bernardo and Tito Alano chipped in 14 and 9, respectively, in the loss.

Action in the UFO caging, which aside from the masters league also has the 14-and-under and 15-20 age groups, has been called off this week to make way for the ongoing 2012 Micronesian Basketball Tournament.

League technical committee director Abner Venus said the masters league will start up on Tuesday, May 29, and continue on Thursday, May 31. The youth league, meanwhile, will be played all day Saturday.

Venue for the competition is at the Civic Center Basketball Court in Susupe. The Ada Gym, however, is the standby venue if rain renders the outdoor facility unplayable.

MDX/Armatech 72 – Moreno 20, Trajano 16, Berline 9, Gabaldon 6, Jinang 6, Tobias 6, Montano 5, Abuy 5, Crisostomo 1.

Fong’s/Batangas Blades 63 – Abedes 19, Bernardo 14, Alano 9, Casabuena 8, Gatdula 6, Galulu 5, Alejandro 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-13, 44-30, 56-45, 72-63.