White Haus hands BBB first loss

White Haus’ Arjay Nonato, left, reaches in for the ball, while Silencer’s Amor Zapata steps closer on defense during an earlier game in the IT&E-sponsored Ali’i Blue Haus caging at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. White Haus played last Saturday and defeated Batang Bear Brand, 89-75. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

White Haus derailed Batang Bear Brand on its way to a third straight win after coasting to an 89-75 victory in their game in the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

White Haus shot better in the second half to improve to an even 2-2 record in the IT&E-sponsored league and hand BBB its first loss in three matches.

Ahead by only a hair at the end of the first half, 43-42, White Haus got more breathing room in the third quarter, 68-59, behind the 10 points of Darwin Barbo. The White Haus big man also drew enough support from his teammates with four of them making at least one field goal apiece in the penultimate frame.

Then in the fourth canto, Jun Tabora took over from Barbo to give White Haus an even bigger advantage en route to a 14-point winning margin. Tabora dropped 12 of his 19 points in the payoff period.

Barbo top-scored for White Haus with his 23 markers, while Nate Mateo, Arjay Nonato, and Alex Ocampo also broke into double figures with 16, 15, and 10, respectively. Ronnel Gamboa had 22 markers on a losing effort for BBB, while Elmer Esdrelon and Hal Spott chipped in 16 apiece.

Meanwhile, in the first game last Sunday, Tropang Ridhors is still unbeaten in four matches following a 94-91 triumph over Empe Light.

Ken Viray, who drilled 28 points in their 91-71 rout of Gold Ballers last Saturday, caught fire anew, recording 39 points in their close victory. Viray’s guns were blazing in the second half where he scored all but one of his 30-plus markers. He was held to a free throw in the opening quarter that ended with Ridhors hanging on to a 21-18 lead, before going scoreless in the second half which finished with Empe Light stealing the upper hand, 40-36.

The Ridhors prolific scorer then sizzled for 19 points in the third period, however Sean Rabasto and Sonny Lerio also knocked in multiple baskets to offset Viray’s production and increase Empe Light’s advantage, 68-60, going into the payoff canto.

Despite his fruitless efforts in the third quarter, Viray kept going in the fourth and this time successfully brought Ridhors back into the game to extend their winning run to four while handing Empe Light its third loss in four matches.

Saturday Game
White Haus 89—Barbo 23, Tabora 19, Mateo 16, Nonato 15, Ocampo 10, Quizon 6.
Batang Bear Brand 75— Gamboa 22, Esdrelon 16, Spott 16, Ariar 8, Devero 6, Achas 2.
Scoring by quarters: 20-22, 43-42, 68-59, 89-75.

Sunday Game
Tropang Ridhors 94 — Viray 39, Guiab 26, Morales 13, Surima 7, Dayrit 5, Fernandez 4.
Empe Light 91 — Lerio 23, Rabasto 20, Tengco 16, Gunnacao 9, Gallardo 8, Leung 4, Peredo 3.
Scoring by quarters: 21-18, 36-40, 60-68, 94-91.