PIC, Shirley’s/Century Hotel improve records

Pacific Islands Club’s Jake Quitugua attempts a point-blanked shot against World Resort’s Dennis Vinas during the fourth quarter of their game in the Inter-Hotel caging last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

PIC crushed World Resort, 79-58, to improve to a 4-1 record and climb from third to second place in the team standings, while Shirley’s/Century jumped to fourth from sixth with its 3-2 mark, following an 80-64 victory against Kanoa Resort (1-4). Both PIC and Shirley’s/Century turned their fortunes around in the second quarter to notch easy victories against their respective opponents.

Hanging on to a precarious one-point lead at the end of the first period, 13-12, PIC erupted for 28 big points in the second quarter for the breakaway, 41-22. PIC more than doubled World Resort’s output in the crucial second period, as the latter was held to another 12-point production.

Jake Quitugua, Bart Demapan, and Jack Aranda connived in PIC’s second-quarter show with the former dropping all his eight points in that period. Aranda opened the quarter with a triple and had seven points, while Demapan chipped in six. World Resort had another so-so offense in the second frame with only Eugene Manglona and Juanito Tiamzon drilling more than one field goal each in the quarter.

Despite its big margin at the break, PIC refused to let its guard down in the third quarter and pounded World Resort harder with Aranda anew on the forefront of the team’s assault. Aranda scored 12 straight points in the first half of the third period, while James Abuy finished what he started, firing six of PIC’s last eight markers. By the end of the third, PIC’s lead swelled to 33, nearly doubling World Resort’s output, 69-36.

The 30-plus lead allowed PIC to relax a bit in the fourth and final canto and gave its benchwarmers time to play, while World Resort finally broke into the 20-point barrier to cut the deficit to a decent number.

Aranda and Demapan top-scored for PIC with 23 points apiece, while Abuy finished with 11. Jomar Danas led World Resort with his 15 markers.

In the first game, Shirley’s/Century fell behind after the first canto, 14-21, but recovered quickly in the second to notch its second win.

Sean Rabasto brought Shirley’s/Century back into the match after scoring 10 of his 14 points in the second quarter, which ended with Kanoa facing a 34-36 deficit. Kanoa lost the seven-point cushion in the first period, as it was limited to 13 markers and five field goals in the second canto. Dindo Pablo, who converted two triples and scored 12 points in the first frame, was held to two points in the second quarter.

Pablo failed to regain his shooting touch in the second half, while Erick Dela Rosa and Fradel Sedillo took over for Shirley’s/Century en route to their 16-point winning margin. Dela Rosa knocked in 14 of his 18 points in the second half, while Sedillo had 12 of his 15 in the last 20 minute of play and eight in the final canto.

First Game
Shirley’s/Century 80 – Dela Rosa 18, Sedillo 15, Rabasto 14, Catungal 8, Jugos 8, Usi 5, Manibusan 4, Aguilar 2, Nicdao 2.

Kanoa Resort 64 – Pablo 10, Duenas 14, Litulumar 10, Armia 8, Usi 7, Kaipat 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-21, 36-34, 57-46, 80-64.

Second Game
PIC 79 – Demapan 23, Aranda 23, Abuy 11, Alegre 8, Quitugua 8, Hambros 4, Babauta 2.

World Resort 58 – Danas 15, Manglona 12, Vinas 9, Bernardo 9, Lewis 5, Tiamzon 4.

Scoring by quarters: 13-12, 41-22, 69-36, 79-58.