Sonics back on track, tops Islander

The Sonics regained their winning form following a 64-57 triumph over the Islander in the open division game in the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League last Tuesday night at the San Antonio court.

The Sonics’ Erick Dela Rosa, center, is fouled by the Islander’s Prince Factor, left, while Dexter Tenorio looks on during the fourth quarter of their open division game in the San Antonio caging last Tuesday at the San Antonio court.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Sonics, who had their three-game winning streak ended by Ask Y U B last week, bounced back against the inconsistent Islander, playing steadier in the homestretch to bag their fourth win in six games.

The Sonics squandered a double-digit spread with less than two minutes left in the match, but hung on for the victory, thanks to the errors the Islander committed in the final stage of the game. The Islander made at least six miscues in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter with the last one handing the big blow to the team’s repeated comeback bids.

After bringing down the Sonics’ lead from 10 to 5, 57-62, with still 48.7 seconds remaining on the clock, the Islander had a chance to move closer when Jaymark De Guzman rushed a 3-pointer and missed. Jerry Diaz collared the rebound and saw teammate Alex Lauron sprinting toward their frontcourt. Diaz went on to pass the ball to Lauron, but De Guzman intercepted the leather to make up for his earlier booboo. Lauron was then force to give up a foul on De Guzman to stop the clock.

De Guzman nailed the first free throw to make it a 6-point advantage for the Sonics, 63-57. He muffed the second one, but Adrian Palacios won the battle for the rebound against Kelvin Fitial and later went 1-for-1 from the stripe after the Islander committed another preemptive foul.

After Palacios missed his second free throw, Islander took the rebound and Lauron pulled up for a hurried triple, but he faltered. The Sonics got the possession back and ran down the clock to keep the win.

The loss to the Sonics came just two days after the Islander crushed Triple J, 84-67.

Fitial teamed up with the Islander’s young guns to whip Triple J and give their team its second win. Fitial scored 19 points to match the output of youth player J.P. Iglecias, while the latter’s former teammates at Marianas High School—Dixon Kwon and Prince Factor—contributed 14 and 12, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the masters division match last Tuesday, CES Electronics finally won in the inaugural season of the league after downing Maplas, 78-60.

CES Electronics was 0-5 before it ended its skid with a victory against Maplas—the lone team that has yet to make it to the win column in the nine-team field, putting the squad in danger of not making it to the playoffs. Only the Top 8 teams will advance to the playoff round.

Sonny Ebuen starred in CES’ first win when he waxed hot in the second half and made up for his so-so performance in the early goings of the game.

Ebuen, who was held to three field goals in the opening half, knocked in CES’ first 9 points in the third period and had 14 in that quarter alone, turning a 33-28 lead to a 64-43 advantage. He then finished off his strong showing in the second half by nailing 8 of CES’ final 10 markers in the fourth frame.

Ariel Abadilla provided enough support to Ebuen, adding 22 points, while Dick Tibayan and Ferdie Tobias also had double figures, chipping in 10 apiece.

Joseph Corong paced Maplas (0-4) with his 15 markers.

In related news, the two masters matches last Wednesday night were halted by rain. Maplas and MJD/GPPC played in the first game, while Blue Haus and Erika’s Catering/Ferrera Builders slugged it out in the nightcap.

OPEN
Tuesday Game
Sonics 64 – De Guzman 18, Dela Rosa 8, Palacios 8, Cadiang 7 Lansang 6, Flores 5, Javier 4, Fidelino 3, Tekopua 2.

Islander 57 – Fitial 18, Factor 10, Lauron 10, Manibusan 6, Diaz 3, Babauta 3, Kwon 3, Malonzo 3.

Scoring by quarters: 13-17, 34-29, 51-42, 64-57.

Sunday Game
Islander 84 – Iglecias 19, Fitial 19, Kwon 14, Factor 12, Nakayama 4, Tenorio 3, Manibusan 3, Diaz 2, Lauron 2, Lee 2, Malonzo 2, Babauta 2.

Triple J 67 – Pangelinan 27, Inos 17, Jarabe 12, Palacios 7, Geli 2, Obnimaga 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-14, 54-34, 62-51, 84-67.

MASTERS
CES Electronics 78 –S. Ebuen 28, Abadilla 22,Tibayan 10, Tobias 10, Dacumos 6, Dela Cruz 4, Echavez 4.

Maplas 60 – Corong 15, Yalung 12, Samson 10, Surla 8, Rivera 5, Verano 4, Salazar 4, Surima 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-14, 33-28, 64-43, 78-60.