Saints hammer Ol’Aces in BANMI U18 league

A Chalan Kanoa Saints player pulls up for a corner jumper against a KFC defender during their debut game in the U18 division of the BANMI youth caging last month at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Coming off a 41-58 debut loss to Kentucky Fried Chicken, the Saints vented their ire on the Ol’Aces to make it to the win column of the nine-team field. The Ol’Aces got their second defeat in as many games.

The Saints posted the 22-point winning margin after showing their might in the second quarter, which started with the Ol’Aces still ahead, 12-9. The Saints more than doubled up the Ol’Aces in the pivotal second period, 21-9, to take a 30-17 halftime edge.

Mike Espinosa led the Saints’ second-quarter uprising and drew a lot of support from his teammates. Espinosa scored 8 of his 14 markers in that period, while five of his teammates also hit the board to turn the three-point deficit to a 13-point lead after the first 20 minutes of play.

The Ol’Aces lost the driver’s seat after the first half, as they scored only two field goals off Kenny Abobo and Dennis Moses’s baskets and a free throw from Julian Lampkin. The Ol’Aces then failed to regain the upper hand in the third period, as they only matched the Saints’ output, 10-10. Both teams drilled only four field goals and knocked in two free throws, allowing the Saints to keep their double-digit spread, 40-27, entering the fourth quarter.

In the final frame, the Ol’Aces were also limited to four field goals, while the Saints had a better shooting percentage to ease past their foes.

Meanwhile, action in the BANMI youth caging resumes today after matches last Monday and Tuesday were called off because of the cancellation of classes and the typhoon. The lone U21 division game today at 5:30pm will pit the Sonics against the G-Rollers.

The Sonics are in a tie for second place with the Kagman Sparks, and KFC, as they hold identical 2-1 records. The Ol’Aces lead the eight-team field with their perfect 3-0 mark, while the G-Rollers are at the bottom half of the standings with their 0-2 slate. Dream Team (1-1), Star Magic (1-2), and Laly 4 (0-3) complete the division.

In the U18 division, the Ol’Aces will play their third game of the season tomorrow as they collide against the Rollers B, which is also winless after two matches. One more U18 match will take place this week with Tinian dueling KFC at 5:30pm. In the second game this Friday at 6:30pm, KFC’s U21 squad will meet the Kagman Sparks.

Saints 57 – Espinosa 14, Jones 9, Nakashima 8, Fidelino 6, Pangelinan 4, B. Floresca 4, Omengkar 2, Pialug 2, C. Floresca 2, Reyes 2.

Ol’Aces 35 – Kabiriel 6, Castillo 5, Moses 4, Olopai 4, Lampkin 2, Olaitiman 2, Ermitanio 2, Peter 2, Anderson 2, Cristobal 2.

Scoring by quarters: 9-12, 30-17, 40-27, 57-36.