Ol’Aces gets second win in U21 division

The Ol’Aces Jimmy Tudela, right, challenges the shot of the G-Rollers’ Lawrence Deleon Guerrero during the second quarter of their U21 game in the BANMI youth caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Ol’Aces built enough of a lead in the first half and halted the G-Rollers’ third-quarter rally to remain undefeated in the division and share the lead with the idle Kagman Sparks. G-Rollers dropped to a 0-2 record.

The co-division leaders enjoyed a 20-point halftime lead, 34-14, after holding the G-Rollers to single digits in scoring in the first two quarters. Center Jimmy Tudela used his height advantage to score 6 early points in the paint, as he nearly matched the G-Rollers total points and lifted the Ol’Aces to a 14-8 advantage

Tudela was then limited to a field goal in the second canto, but the rest of his teammates stepped up to pad their lead, 34-14. Four Ol’Aces players drained at least two field goals apiece, while three others contributed one each. While the Ol’Aces seemed to have no problems running their offense, the G-Rollers still struggled to find their targets, as they made only 6 points in the second canto off one basket each from Jomar Danas, Lawrence Deleon Guerrero, and Prince Factor.

The Ol’Aces’ lead ballooned to as much as 24 in the opening minutes of the third quarter before Factor and Arciaga teamed up in the fight back. An Arciaga triple cut the deficit to 10, 30-40, and the G-Rollers had a chance to move within 8 off Irvin Malonzo’s charities in the closing seconds of the third, but he muffed both. The Ol’Aces then countered with a fastbreak play, as Karlo De Leon sprinted to their court after Malonzo’s second miss and fed Wilfredo Francisco down the baseline for the basket that stretched their lead to 12.

The Ol’Aces protected the double-digit lead in the first half of the fourth canto with the G-Rollers opting not to start Factor and Arciaga in the payoff period after anchoring the team’s recovery in the third. With their main gunners out, the G-Rollers were stuck to 30 points for a while and were without a field goal in the first eight minutes of the fourth. The G-Rollers had only two free throws in that drought off Factor and Malonzo’s splits, while the Ol’Aces got 3 from Ezra Caro’s pair and Jasper Yap’s one free throw to keep their safe distance.

The G-Rollers finally hit their first field goal under the two-minute mark when Factor stole an inbound pass and went strong to the basket. However, he was too late the hero, as the Ol’Aces were still up by 11, 45-34, and time was not on the G-Rollers’ side. The league implements a running time with the clock stopping at the 2-minute mark in the first three periods and the last three in the fourth. However, the G-Rollers seemed not aware of this rule, as they took too much time making inbound plays every time the game was reset or when getting to the foul line.

The Ol’Aces seemed oblivious to the running time rule, too and were once called for 5-second violation in the inbound play in the fourth quarter as no player from the floor stepped out to the sideline to restart the game. However, the faster clock worked to the Ol’Aces advantage as they were protecting the double-digit lead in the entire second half.

Ol’Aces 47 – Tudela 8, Babauta 7, Yap 7, Sanchez 6, San Nicolas 4, Darag 3, Mendoza 3, De Leon 2, Suarez 2, Caro 2, Francisco 2.

G-Rollers 38 – Factor 11, Arciaga 7, Danas 4, Babauta 4, L. Deleon Guerrero 2, Sacramento 2, Rios 2, Malonzo 1.

Scoring by quarters: 14-8, 34-14, 42-30, 47-38.