PIC Chefs, Mariana Resort win

Mariana Resort’s Jorge De Guzman goes up for a reverse layup against two PIC Chef defenders during the opening game in the Emon Lodge-Pacific Cup last month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

PIC Chefs pulled off a 74-73 win over Degree in the first game, while Mariana Resort coasted past Hawaiian Rock in the second match, 76-57. Mariana Resort now has a 4-1 record to stay in second place behind the unbeaten Blue Haus (3-0) and Armatech (3-0), while Hawaiian Rock dropped from third to fourth with its 2-3 slate. PIC Chef moved up to third after improving to an even 2-2 mark, while Degree is still at the cellar with its 0-5 record.

Jun “Smoking Gun” Tabora was on target in PIC Chefs’ close win, firing a league-best of 43 points. He drilled PIC Chefs’ first eight points in the fourth quarter to keep the team’s distance and also hit the last basket that gave his squad its second victory. Tabora had 14 points in the fourth quarter, just six short of matching the output of the entire Degree team.

Tabora outgunned Alex Ocampo in a shootout in the first period to lift PIC to a 20-18 advantage. Tabora sizzled for 14 markers in the first canto do double up Ocampo. They cancelled out each other in the second period, tallying six markers apiece, while three other Degree players made at least two baskets apiece to tie the match at halftime, 36-36.

The game remained tight in the third with Tabora and Ocampo still trading baskets before the former had the latter’s number in the fourth to help PIC Chefs escape with the win. Ocampo was held to six points and two field goals in the payoff frame.

In the second game, Mariana Resort set up the rout with a third-quarter breakaway against Hawaiian Rock.

Ahead by only six after the first half, 35-29, Mariana Resort stretched the lead to double digits in the third, 56-43. Jun Alipio starred for Mariana Resort in the third, scoring eight of his 11 points in the quarter, including a string of six markers.

In the fourth period, Alipio’s teammates stepped up, leaving Hawaiian Rock with no chance to mount a comeback.

Jorge De Guzman top-scored for Mariana Resort with his 19 markers, while Joseph Galulu added 10. Jerry Lopez and Robert Guiang had 17 each to lead Hawaiian Rock.

First Game
PIC Chefs 74 – J. Tabora 43, Sublemente 13, Catalla 6, Francia 6, Catacutan 6.

Degree 73 – Ocampo 28, Surima 15, Geli 10, Sampang 15, Jinang 2, Ebuen 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-18, 36-36, 54-49, 74-73.

Second Game
Mariana Resort 76 – De Guzman 19, Alipio 11, Galulu 10, Stohle 9, Pineda 9, Cortez 8, Montes 5, Abuan 2, de la Torre 2, Garcia 2.

Hawaiian Rock 57 – Lopez 17, Guiang 17, Abaygar 4, Mateo 4, Dela Cruz 4, Tiples 3, De Belen 2, Saplan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-9, 35-29, 56-43, 76-57.