Ol’Aces finish off 670 Sonics

The Ol’Aces’ Douglas Schmidt, right, drives past the 670 Sonics’ Sean Rabasto, partly hidden, during Game 1 of their title series in the MIBF island-wide caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The Ol’Aces stole Game 1, 84-83, and swept the Sonics after prevailing in Game 2 last Monday, 101-86. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Ol’Aces went for the kill, routing the 670 Sonics, 101-86, in Game 2 of their title series in the men’s division of the 2018 MIBF Island-wide Basketball League last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The convincing win came just a few days after the Ol’Aces eked out an 84-83 in Game 1 of the best-of-three championship duel.

While the Ol’Aces pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the opener, the newly crowned champions were in control of Game 2, beginning in the second quarter to finish the short series.

Douglas Schmidt stepped up for the Ol’Aces in the pivotal second canto, scoring 16 of the team’s 38 points to turn a shaky 16-14 lead to a 54-42 halftime advantage. The Micronesian Games-bound Schmidt knocked in three triples in that scoring surge—making the Ol’Aces’ first two baskets in the second canto from the parking lot and recording 7 straight points midway in the period.

Freddie Pelisamen, who was held to 9 points in Game 1, had 6 markers in the second frame, while Coby Santos and Dean Blake contributed two field goals each to give the Ol’Aces a double-digit lead at the break.

When the game resumed, the Ol’Aces protected their twin-digit margin and even padded their lead, 73-57, with Schmidt and company still on target.

The 670 Sonics could not make headway in the third quarter to cut the deficit to single digit, as their main gunner, Matt Duenas, was held to one field goal in the penultimate frame. No 670 Sonics player managed to earn more than 4 points in the third, as the team clearly missed their other scorers—Melvin Cadiang and Jaymark De Guzman, who are off-island and undergoing military training.

Duenas then regained his shooting touch in the fourth period and drew some help from his teammates, but the Ol’Aces countered every shot from the 670 Sonics with Schmidt teaming up with Pelisamen in sealing the win for their team.

Schmidt added 8 more points in the final canto to finish with 35 markers—his best output this season—while Pelisamen drilled 7 of the Ol’Aces last 11 markers to finish with 18. Blake and Marvin Rabauliman were the other double-figure scorers for the Ol’Aces after recording 12 and 11, respectively, while Duenas paced the 670 Sonics anew with his 19 markers.

Duenas was later named regular season MVP during the brief awards ceremony after Game 2, while Schmidt took the Finals MVP trophy.

The finals sweep against the Sonics gave the Ol’Aces a perfect record this season. They went 7-0 in the single-elimination regular season and then defeated the Chalan Kanoa Ballers and Genesis All-Stars to move into the finals.

Ol’Aces 101— Schmidt 35, Pelisamen 18, Blake 12, Rabauliman 11, Basa 6, Atan 4, Deleon Guerrero 4, Lizama 2.

670 Sonics 86 — M. Duenas 19, Ngeskebei 18, Rabasto 13, Aranda 11, Fidelino 8, Rafols 3, E. Duenas 3, Javier 3, Abobo 2, Ordona 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-14, 54-42, 73-57, 101-86.