Red Rice upsets Wag Kang Pabebe

Red Rice recorded the most lopsided win so far in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League after demolishing Wag Kang Pabebe, 80-55, last Tuesday night at the Navy Hill court.

Red Rice’s Angelo Fernando, right, drives against Wag Kang Pabebe’s J.R. Mina during the first half of their game in the Blue Haus-IT&E caging last Tuesday at the Navy Hill Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The victory in the rescheduled match that was originally set for Sunday was an upset as Red Rice was at the bottom half of the team standings coming into the match, while Wag Kang Pabebe was the co-leader and on a three-game winning.

Red Rice spread the wealth in the match reset due to rain to cruise to the 25-point triumph and returned to the win column after dropping two of its last three games. Mike Cabanas led Red Rice’s balance offense, as he fired 26 points. Angelo Fernando chipped in 16, while Darwin Barbo contributed 11, and Danrey Chan, Armand Anasan, and Joel Saplan added 8 apiece. Jason Blasco completed Red Rice’s box score as he registered 2 points.

While Red Rice had multiple options in scoring, Wag Kang Pabebe’s offense was too predictable with only two players consistently hitting their shots for the erstwhile leader. Christian Devero had 20 for the losing squad, while Brendon Talania logged 19. The five other Wag Kang Pabebe players who hit the board posted no more than two field goals.

With Talania and Devero on target, Wag Kang Pabebe took early control of the match, but failed to keep the momentum late in that first half, while Cabanas, Fernando, and Barbo started working together for Red Rice. The trio combined for Red Rice’s last 15 points in the first 20 minutes of play to grab the upper hand from Wag Kang Pabebe, 34-26.

Red Rice complemented its balance scoring with a tough defense late in the first half when Wag Kang Pabebe did not have a quarterback and was forced to commit errors, which the former turned into baskets. Wag Kang Pabebe was without point guard Adonis Macoto, while J.R. Mina and Talania sat on the bench in the closing minutes of the first half.

In the second half, Fernando got things going for Red Rice early on, while Cabanas and Barbo took over midway. The rest of the team added more baskets, which came easy with Red Rice enjoying a big lead and Wag Kang Pabebe making little effort to fight back.

Red Rice 80 – Cabanas 26, Fernando 16, Barbo 12, Anasan 8, Saplan 8, Chan 8, Blaso 2.

Wag Kang Pabebe 55 – C. Devero 20, Talania 19, Woodson 4, J. Devero 4, Mina 4, Abadilla 2, Orbeta 2.

Scoring by halves: 34-26, 80-55.