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Sonics enter finals of PH caging
The 670 Sonics players and their officials pose for a photo before playing against Hugot in the Inaugural 670 Sonics-Laguna Philippines Friendship Basketball Tournament in San Pablo, Laguna, Philippines last Saturday.
(Contributed Photo)
The 670 Sonics made it to the finals of the Inaugural 670 Sonics-Laguna Philippines Friendship Basketball Tournament after completing the round-robin elimination with a 2-1 record.
The Sonics, who lost their debut against San Pablo College, 102-71, last Saturday defeated Hugot in their next match on the same day, 82-75, and won over Lipa (via forfeiture) last Sunday to move into the finale. The visiting team was scheduled to challenge SPC in yesterday’s title game and results of the match were unavailable at press time.
Jaymark De Guzman and Jack Aranda teamed up in lifting the Sonics past Hugot at the Brgy. Del Remedio court in San Pablo, Laguna. The team’s 1-2 punch scored 19 points each with Aranda tallying 12 from downtown and De Guzman knocking 6 from beyond the arc. The Sonics had a good shooting night, burying eight triples with Mike Arciaga and Sean Rabasto adding one apiece.
With the Sonics on target, they led at the end of each quarter, withstanding Hugot’s repeated comeback bids.
Gerald Flores was the third double figure scorer for the Sonics, chipping in 10, while Arciaga finished with 9.
Jay Cabrillios led Hugot with his 19 points.
Meanwhile, the Sonics had a sluggish start in the short tournament after bowing to SPC at the Laguna State Polytechnic University.
Tudela’s wards kept up with SPC only in the first quarter, facing a manageable deficit, 18-26, before falling behind by a big margin in the last three periods. SPC, which is reinforced by two tall American players, saved the best for last, outgunning the Sonics in the final frame, 33-19.
“The court has a slippery wooden floor and the boys could not get their feet set. We kept close with SPC but our boys could not find their shot and footing yesterday (Saturday) morning just a few hours after were arrived in Laguna at 2am. SPC’s American player dunk twice against us,” Tudela said in an email to Saipan Tribune.
Prince Factor and Jack Aranda top-scored in the Sonics’ debut loss, registering 12 points each, while Rabasto contributed 10, including the team’s last 7 markers.
“We played better against Hugot in our second game. Next up is the championship game against SPC, which is the best team in Laguna,” Tudela said.
