Sonics zoom to fourth straight win

The Sonics’ Gerald Flores fakes off the defense of Dream Team’s Mike Ito, left, and Leonard Sablan during the second quarter of their game in the BANMI youth caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The comeback victory was the Sonics’ fourth consecutive since losing their debut in the league against the unbeaten Ol’Aces (4-0) last month, while Dream Team fell to a 0-3 record. Actually, Dream won its opener against Star Magic, but the former was dropped out of the field thus the former’s lone victory was forfeited.

Dream Team boosted its chances to barge into the win column after leading by as much as 12 points early in the third period, 35-23, before the Sonics tightened up their defense in the remaining minutes of the match to steal the game.

The Sonics cut the deficit to six by the end of the third, 39-45, and then held Dream Team to 6 points and three field goals in the final canto to complete the come-from-behind triumph.

Adrian Palacios led the Sonics’ fightback, scoring 15 points, 9 of them came in the fourth quarter as his production alone was enough to outgun the entire Dream Team. Dream Team drew 4 points from Jason Palacios, while the other 2 markers came from Leonard Sablan.

Sablan top-scored for Dream Team with his 14 points, while Palacios and Shane Deleon Guerrero added 11 apiece. Palacios’ double-digit score was highlighted by a buzzer-beating triple at the half that gave Dream Team a 31-23 cushion, while Sablan opened the third with a layup and Deleon Guerrero followed it up with a jumper to threaten a breakaway.

Returning Sonics coach Jesse Tudela sued for time to halt Dream Team’s momentum and he was successful, as his squad mounted a comeback to extend their winning run to four.

Meanwhile, in last Monday’s lone U21 match, Kentucky Fried Chicken also rallied past G-Rollers, 64-60.

KFC fell behind by as much as 11 in the first half, 28-37, and was still facing an 8-point deficit after the third canto, 42-50, when Jethro Cruz’s outside sniping brought the team back into the game. Cruz nailed 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, including 6 from downtown to help KFC grab the victory from the G-Rollers.

Tristan Montes and Mark Ogasawara backed Cruz up in the fourth period, adding 6 and 4 markers, respectively. With the trio hitting their targets in the payoff canto, KFC went on a 22-10 scoring surge in the fourth to turn things around and gain its second win in five games, while the G-Rollers fell to a 1-4 mark.

FRIDAY
Sonics 58 – Palacios 15, Flores 11, Dela Rosa 10, Aranda 9, De Guzman 5, Feria 4, Cadiang 2, Rabasto 2, Villanueva 1.

Dream Team 51 – Sablan 14, Deleon Guerrero 11, Palacios 11, Camacho 7, Kwon 4, Ada 2.

Scoring by quarters: 9-16, 23-31, 39-45, 58-51.

MONDAY
KFC 64 – Cruz 16, Borromeo 10, Ogasawara 8, Montes 7, Gunnacao 7, Camacho 7, Deocares 4, Alipio 2.

G-Rollers 60 – Arciaga 22, Factor 12, Malonzo 11, Capuyon 8, R. Deleon Guerrero 4, Rios 2, Babauta 1.

Scoring by quarters: 16-25, 28-37, 42-50, 64-60.