Twin wins for Sonics

The Sonics XVIII’s Jerome Malasarte, right, unloads a running shot against a Kagman Sparks defender during their boys U18 division game in the Diaz youth caging last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Sonics XVIII and Sonics XVI prevailed in their respective matches in the boys U18 division of the 2017 Francisco M. Diaz Memorial Youth League last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the curtain-raiser, the Sonics XVIII coasted to a 51-40 victory versus the Kagman Sparks, while in the second match, the Sonics XVI also won convincingly over Mt. Carmel School, 58-42.

The Sonics XVI held the Knights to 2 points in the third quarter en route to the double-digit winning margin. The MCS-Sonics XVI tiff was tied at halftime, 27-all, before the Knights had a meltdown in the penultimate period, allowing the latter to break away. Keeanu Diaz, Champ Sabangan, and Jester Kintaro had two field goals apiece in the third canto to power the Sonics XVI to a 46-29 advantage, while MCS’ lone basket came from Juan R. Quitugua.

After their lackluster showing in the third frame, the Knights picked up their scoring behind the consecutive field goals of Joseph Muna. However, Mt. Carmel still fell short, as the Sonics XVI managed to counter Muna’s baskets to keep its safe distance.

The victory gave the Sonics XVI a 5-3 record and third place in the team standings behind the unbeaten NMI Rollers (7-0) and Ol’Aces Elite (5-1), making the former a likely qualifier in the playoff round. The Top 8 teams after the round-robin regular season of the 12-team field will move into the single-elimination playoffs. The Knights, despite the loss, are still in the race with their 4-4 mark for No. 6 in the team standings.

Just slightly ahead of Mt. Carmel at No. 5 with a 4-3 card is the Sonics XVIII, who led against the Kagman Sparks right from the get-go and pulled away in the third.

The Sonics XVIII built a 24-13 advantage at the break and then went for the kill in the third after limiting the Sparks to two field goals for a 45-17 lead. Jerome Malasarte and Jeremie Manansala teamed up in outgunning the Sparks as they combined for 14 points in the third canto.

Malasarte finished with a game-high 12 points, while Manansala had 8, the same output Sonics XVIII got from Ronald Bernardo.
Mustafa Augustino logged 12 points for Kagman, which has only one win in six games and is in danger of not making the cut.

First Game
Sonics XVIII 51 – Malasarte 13, Bernardo 8, Manansala 8, Paragados 6, Lagmay 4, Bautista 3, Chavez 3, Muna 2, Ejercito 2, Aque 2.
Kagman Sparks 40 – M. Augustino 12, P. Augustino 8, Faisao 7, Guerrero 6, Santos 4, Smith 3.
Scoring by quarters: 12-8, 24-13, 45-17, 51-40.

Second Game
Sonics XVI 58 – Diaz 13, Kintaro 11, Linaogo 9, Sabangan 8, Ejercito 7, Ordona 6, Apasan 4.
MCS Knights 42 – Muna 9, Gamab 9, Cepeda 7, Deleon Guerrero 7, Richardson 5, Santos 3, Quitugua 2.
Scoring by quarters: 14-13, 27-27, 46-29, 58-42.