Two in a row for Blue Haus

Blue Haus’ Leo Galarse, left, and Darwin Barbo challenge the host of the Hoopaholics’ James Villacrusis during the first quarter of their game in the QQ caging last Wednesday night at the Garapan Basketball Court. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

Defending champion Blue Haus earned its second win in as many games in the 2014 QQ Rent A Cat Invitational Basketball League after pounding the Hoopaholics, 65-46, last Wednesday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

A 14-0 windup in the last 6:25 of the second quarter helped Blue Haus rout the hapless Hoopaholics. Before the major Hoops meltdown, Blue Haus was ahead by only 6, 24-18. Leo Galarse then canned three straight fastbreak points and Blue Haus went on to turn the Hoops’ errors into easy baskets to close the first half with a big 20-point lead, 38-18.

The Hoopaholics scored only two field goals in the second canto, as it went for too much ball movement and repeatedly was time pressured to pull up for shots. Alex Lauron and James Villacrusis hit one field goal apiece, while Dexter Tenorio nailed a free throw.

The Hoopaholics’ drought continued in the second half before Cabrera hit a banked shot at the 5:07 mark. However, the Hoops was in a cold mode anew in the next three minutes, while Blue Haus kept using its bench to pile up more points.

By the end of the third canto, the defending champion was still enjoying a big margin, 51-26. The Hoopaholics was limited to three field goals and two free throws in the third period with no player from the squad scoring more than two points.

The Hoopaholics tried to mount a comeback in the fourth and cut the deficit to as low as 13, 42-55, with less than four minutes left in the game. However, a quick 6-0 run capped by Edwin Santos’ back-to-back baskets sealed it for Blue Haus.

The Hoops absorbed its second straight loss after bowing to Mobil, 68-72, in the league’s opening day last weekend. Blue Haus defeated Island Manpower in the opener, 69-66, while Toka routed High-Five in the third match last Sunday, 65-48.

High-Five recovered with a 70-65 win against the Rebels in the first game last Wednesday night.

Don Brennan scored 22 points for High-Five, including the team’s last three points, while Tim Wesley made two straight baskets in the homestretch and finished with 12 points.

First Game
High Five 70 – Brennan 22, Pangelinan 13, Wesley 12, Peters 8, Aaron 5, Coldeen 5, Acosta 2, Aughenbaugh 2.
Rebels 65 – Litulular 14, Babauta 13, Ogumoro 10, Lisua 9, Norita 6, Teregeyo 4.
Scoring by quarters: 10-7, 29-27, 54-47, 70-65.

Second Game
Blue Haus 65 – Esdrelon 12, Barbo 11, Pagarao 10, Devero 8, Santos 7, Galarse 7, Guiab 3, De Dios 2, Talania 2, Garcia 1.
Hoopaholics 46 – Villacrusus 14, Lauron 10, Cabrera 6, Villagomez 6, Tenorio 3, Sablan 3, Palacios 2, Manibusan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 17-13, 38-18, 51-26, 65-46.