MJD/GPPC extends streak to six

MJD/GPPC’s Jorge De Guzman loses his balance as he is fouled by Erika’s Catering/Ferrera Builders’ Dante Tabora, right, on his way to the basket during the first quarter of their masters division game in the San Antonio caging last Saturday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

MJD/GPPC notched back-to-back victories last week in the masters division of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League to stretch its winning run to six.

MJD/GPPC first defeated the then unbeaten GMJ/IKKI Wholesale, 85-82, last Nov. 25 at the San Antonio court before downing Erika’s Catering/Ferrera Builders last Saturday, 83-80, for a 6-0 record and solo lead in the division.

Jun Tabora top-scored for MJD/GPPA in both wins, as he registered 37 against GMJ/IKKI and 43 versus Erika’s/Ferrera.

Against GMJ/IKKI, Tabora led MJD/GPPC’s breakaway in the third quarter, scoring 9 of the team’s first 12 points to turn a slim 35-32 halftime advantage to a 64-49 lead. Tabora picked up where he left off, adding 8 more points in the fourth canto to foil GMJ/IKKI’s comeback bid, while five of his teammates also contributed in the final frame, making at least one field goal apiece.

Alex Ocampo backed up Tabora with his 14 points, while Randy Mungcal, Jun Alipio, Jojo Parcutilo, and Jorge De Guzman combined for 31 markers. Marlon Binuya had 23 points for GMJ/IKKI, which dropped to a 5-1 record.

Meanwhile, Jun Tabora won a shootout against his brother Dante after the former recorded his biggest output in the season against the former’s 26 markers.

The siblings were neck-and-neck in the first period with Jun hitting 10 points versus Dante’s 8. However, Dante’s squad managed to get the upper hand at the end of the first period, 27-21, with Joel Fernandez also finding his mark early for Erika’s/Ferrera, logging 9 markers.

The Taboras show continued in the second quarter and this time Jun doubled up his brother, 14-6, and helped MJD/GPPC grabbed the driver’s seat by halftime, 42-37.

At the start of the second half, Jun slowed down a bit, posting only two field goals, but he still matched Dante’s production (8), as MJD/GPPC kept the lead, 64-55, entering the final canto.

In the fourth frame, Dante struggled, converting only two baskets, while Jun finished strong, firing 11 more points to counter the hot shooting of Rodney Catalla. Catalla knocked in three triples in the fourth quarter and scored 15 of his 23 points in that period to threaten MJD/GPPC, but timely baskets from Jun and clutch free throws from Mungcal saved the day for the division leader.

Nov. 25 Game
MJD/GPPC 85 – Tabora 37, Ocampo 14, Mungcal 9, Alipio 9, Parcutilo 7, De Guzman 6, Deocares 3, Sampang 2.

GMJ/IKKI 82 – Binuya 23, Pantaleon 21, Montano 19, Dizon 10, Galulu 5, Montes 4.

Scoring by quarters: 20-14, 35-32, 64-49, 85-82.

Nov. 28 Game
MJD/GPPC 83 – Tabora 43, Mungcal 10, Ocampo 9, De Guzman 8, Parcutilo 6, Alipio 6, Sampang 1.

Erika’s/Ferrera 80 – Tabora 26, Catalla 23, Fernandez 15, De Belen 9, Villarin 7.

Scoring by quarters: 21-27, 42-37, 64-55, 83-80.