MJD takes early lead Sonics win

MJD Corp. pulled off another close victory, while the 670 Sonics made it to the win column in the open division of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League.\

The Sonics’ Renan Lansang stops and pops for a shot against the outstretch arm of Maplas’ Dennis Morales during the second quarter of their open division game in the San Antonio caging last Tuesday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Sonics eased past Maplas, 78-50, last Tuesday at the San Antonio court to bounce back from their debut loss to MJD, which now leads the East Division with its 2-0 record following a 90-87 triumph against KB Market last Wednesday.

MJD grabbed the victory from KB Market after overhauling a 3-point deficit with less than a minute left in their match. KB Market collapsed as it gambled from the 3-point area and paid the price after missing three successive attempts.

Matt Duenas committed the first miss with his shot from downtown going in and out. He later gave up a foul on Jun Estolas off a fastbreak play and the latter made both charities to slice the deficit to a hair, 86-87, with still 48.5 seconds left in the match.

KB Market tried unloading another shot from beyond the arc, but Preston Basa hit an airball from the left key, awarding possession to MJD, which sued for time to set up for the go-ahead basket. When the game resumed, Estolas went for an isolation play from the right key before feeding Jack Lizama, who popped out from the right wing for the jumper that gave MJD the lead, 88-87.

Now down after muffing an 8-point lead midway in the fourth quarter and enjoying a double-digit advantage in the first half, KB Market did not call a timeout and instead went for another long-distance shot. Basa faltered anew and Duenas picked up the long rebound, but Estolas managed to wrestle the ball away from the latter and threw the leather to the sprinting Freddie Pelisamen. The former CNMI National Team player nailed the fastbreak layup, upping MJD’s lead to 3, going into the last 8.7 seconds of the game.

This time, KB Market pressed the panic button and ironically was pressured to attempt a triple to send the game into overtime. Basa inbounded the ball, which later rolled back to the sideline as Pelisamen tapped a return pass to the former from Leo Galarse. Pelisamen then made another defensive stop, as he hounded Lerio Pagarao, who momentarily lost possession in the ensuing play, before picking it up and throwing a long triple that hit nothing but air as time expired.

Meanwhile, the Sonics held Maplas to one field goal in the entire first quarter to set up the easy win.

Maplas was limited to a solitary point in the first eight minute and change of the opening canto off Ronald Rueda’ charity before Rodolfo Barrios finally gave the team its first 2-point basket at the 1:17 mark with his up and under move. However, Maplas was held to another free throw after that, leaving the Sonics with a 12-4 lead.

The Sonics kept going with its younger and taller crew pounding Maplas, whose offense was still in disarray in the remaining three quarters.

Tuesday Game
670 Sonics 78 – De Guzman 20, Dela Rosa 12, Sto. Domingo 11, Lansang 10, Palacios 8, Fidelino 7, Tekopua 5, Flores 3, Cadiang 2.

Maplas 50 – Rueda 23, Baluyot 8, Corong 7, Morales 3, Salazar 3, Usi 2, Jumaquio 2, Reyes 2, Barrios 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-4, 29-18, 50-31, 78-50.

Wednesday Game
MJD 90 – Pelisamen 25, De Guzman 16, Estolas 15, Lizama 13, Bautista 9, Gapor 8, Ruluked 2.

KB Market 87 – Duenas 31, I. Devero 20, Basa 12, Galarse 5, Santos 4, C. Devero 4, Pagarao 4, Manglona 4, J. Devero 3.

Scoring by quarters: 11-26, 34-46, 58-70, 90-87.