Tropang Ridhors still unbeaten

Tropang Ridhors’s Ken Viray, right, goes up for a shot against Spigen’s Adrian Flores during the first quarter of their game in the IT&E-sponsored Ali’i Blue Haus caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Tropang Ridhors avoided the upset axe of Spigen after pulling off a 79-74 victory during their game in the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Down by 14 at the break, 33-47, and still facing a 5-point deficit, 55-60, going into final canto, Ken Viray and Junar Guiab combined for 16 of their 24 points in the fourth period to save Tropang Ridhors from absorbing its first loss.

With the 5-point victory, Tropang Ridhors went on to extend its streak to five, while Spigen continued to have a roller-coaster ride in the league and fell to a 3-3 record.

Before the sorry loss, Spigen threatened Tropang Ridhors right from the get-go, building a 13-1 lead. Back-to-back baskets from Jun Marilla gave Spigen the 12-point advantage, while Tropang Ridhors’ solitary point was courtesy of Viray’s split charity.

The league-leading team struggled in the first six minutes and change of the match, failing to hit a single field goal before Guiab canned a triple at the 3:24 mark of the opening frame. Guiab and Viray then alternately nailed baskets for Tropang Ridhors to slice the deficit to 4 at the end of the first period, 15-19.

However, Spigen widened the gap anew in the second canto with Mike Umali and Bruce Berline combining for 16 points and drawing some help from their teammates. Guiab was held to a field goal in the second quarter, leaving Viray to carry the cudgels for Tropang Ridhors. Viray then kept going in the third frame, while Guiab regained his form, and their other teammates also contributed to Tropang Ridhors’ cause to cut Spigen’s lead to single digit, going into the fourth quarter.

Spigen lost the double-figure advantage, as it made only three field goals in the third period. It eventually failed to protect the driver’s seat in the fourth canto, as only Isagani Cortez made more than one basket for the squad in that meltdown, while Guiab and Viray joined forces anew to keep Tropang Ridhors’ winning run.

Viray finished with a game-high 37 points, while Guiab chipped in 17. Berline had 19 points for Spigen, which played without its main gunner Lerio Pagarao.

Meanwhile, in the second game, Team Sawi broke into the win column after downing Gold Ballers, 81-74.
Brendon Talania and Errol Peredo starred in Team Sawi’s first win in three games with the former making 31 points and the latter adding 29.

First Game
Tropang Ridhors 79 — Viray 37, Guiab 17, Yoshizawa 8, Morales 5, Surima 4, Fernandez 4, Claveria 2.
Spigen 74 — Berline 19, Umali 13, Flores 13, Tobias 11, Cortez 11, Marilla 4, Tibayan 4.
Scoring by quarters: 15-19, 33-47, 55-60, 79-74.

Second Game
Team Sawi 81— Talania 31, Peredo 29, Directo 9, Gragasin 5, Galulu 4, Garcia 3.
Gold Ballers 74 — Leomo 16, Mateo 16, Avila 13, Velasco 12, Factor 8, Cortez 4, Manabat 2.
Scoring by quarters: 19-16, 42-38, 66-61, 81-74.