Rollers 1 nears elimination round sweep

Three Rollers 2 defenders watch Rollers 1’s Mike Arciaga pull up for a point-blanked shot during the first half of their game in the Tan Holdings holiday hoops last week at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Rollers 1 gained its third win in as many games in the boys U19 division of the 2015 Tan Holdings Christmas Basketball Tournament after outclassing the Ol’Aces, 53-49, last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

With its 3-0 record, Rollers 1 is on top of the five-team field and a win away from sweeping the round-robin elimination, while the Ol’Aces absorbed their first loss in three matches for a share of second place with the Sonics.

Rollers 1 managed to pull off the close win after making crucial free throws in the homestretch. It earned its last 5 markers from the foul line with John Darag knocking in three charities and Jethro Cruz making a pair.

Cruz top-scored for Rollers 1 with his 16 points, drilling 10 of them in the second half to keep his team on the lead, while Mike Arciaga contributed 15.

Aiferson Atan paced the Ol’Aces with his 14 markers.

In other results last week, Rollers 2 split its two games, prevailing against the Runnin’ Rebels (0-3) first, 62-58, before bowing to the Sonics, 45-72.

Rollers 2, which led by 10 at the break, 36-26, had to withstand the Runnin’ Rebels’ rally in the second half to make it to the win column after a 0-2 start. Chris Aneo hit three straight baskets for Rollers 2 in the closing minutes, while Angelo Factor, John Babauta, and Aaron Ogumoro also hit timely shots to save their team from collapsing.

Rollers 2 next faced the Sonics last Saturday and the former failed to keep its momentum, allowing the latter to cruise to victory.

Art Borromeo and Djay Ong led the Sonics’ rout of Rollers 2, scoring 22 and 15 points, respectively. Borromeo dropped 12 of his total points in the first half, while Ong chipped in 8 to give the Sonics a promising 39-21 halftime advantage.

Rollers 2 never made headway in the second half to fall to a 1-3 record and fourth place in the team standings.

SATURDAY
First Game
Sonics 72 – Borromeo 22, Ong 15, Bondoc 10, Castro 4, Espinosa 4, Kintaro 4, De Guzman 4, Rivera 2, Javier 2.

Rollers 2 45 – Gamab 8, Ogumoro 6, Aneo 4, Dela Cruz 4, Tengco 4, Hudkins 3, Abobo 2, Cobacha 2, Babauta 2, Deleon Guerrero 2.

Scoring by halves: 39-21, 72-45.

Second Game
Rollers 1 53 – Cruz 16, Arciaga 15, Darag 9, Ellama 5, Dancoe 4, Alipio 4.

Ol’Aces 49 – Atan 14, Stefano 7, Nakashima 6, Cristobal 5, Francisco 5, Moses 5, Castillo 2.

Scoring by halves: 28-23, 53-49.

THURSDAY
Rollers 2 62 – Aneo 14, Ogumoro 11, Tengco 8, Factor 5, Gamab 5, Abobo 4, Babauta 3, Mendoza 2, Ichihara 2, Deleon Guerrero 2.

Runnin’ Rebels 58 – Siech 18, Sablan 12, Ngiraroas 7, Atalig 6, Pangelinan 5, tadeo 3, Augustin 2, Jones 2, Hopkins 1.

Scoring by halves: 36-26, 62-58.