By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

DANIEL secured the 2nd Calvary International Mission-Filipino Community Church Inter-Color Basketball League-Genesis Invitational Cup after clobbering Isaiah, 113-78, last Monday at the CIM-FCC court in Gualo Rai.
Daniel finished the tournament with an 8-1 record tying Joshua, but the former won the tiebreak, as it beat the latter in the regular season.
The eventual pennant champion claimed the No. 1 spot with the help of Nehemiah, which pulled off a 66-63 upset over Jeremiah in the first game.
Coming into last Monday’s match, Jeremiah was holding a 6-1 record.
Had Jeremiah won, there could have been a triple-tie for the top spot and the pennant winner would have been decided via a quotient system.
But a triple from Mark Canlas in the last five seconds of the game lifted Nehemiah to a 3-point win and prevented a three-way deadlock.
Daniel played in the second game and just needed to top Isaiah to notch the pennant.
Daniel did it with ease, as they won by 35 points.
Both games last Monday were continuations of rain-delayed matches.
Daniel resumed its game against Isaiah in the second quarter and picked up where it left off taking a 52-34 halftime lead. The match was first played on Jan. 22.
Daniel led by only eight at the end of the first quarter, 24-16, when James Abuy exploded for 11 points in the second quarter and Elmer Esdrelon added seven to start Daniel’s breakaway.
Daniel was even deadlier in the third quarter, as Jun Tabora joined forces with Abuy in attacking Isaiah’s defense or the lack of it.
Tabora had 14 markers in the third period, while Abuy fired nine, as Daniel entered the final quarter with a comfortable 91-52 lead.
With only Meljun Capalad hitting his marks in the fourth quarter, there was no way Isaiah could come back and steal the game ending the regular season with a 3-6 mark.
Despite the loss, Isaiah is assured of a slot in the playoffs, but since it finished seventh, it will have a tough assignment in the next round in the second-ranked Joshua.
Abuy paced Daniel with 21 points and gave the pennant champion an outright ticket to the semifinals.
Alex Lauron chipped in 20, while Tabora contributed 18. Esdrelon added 15.
In the first game, Nehemiah and Jeremiah started their game in the third quarter. The match was first played on Nov. 20.
Canlas was held scoreless in the first three quarters, but saved the best for last, drilling all his six points in the fourth canto, including a game-winning triple.
Nehemiah finished the regular season with a 5-4 record tying Caleb and Elijah. The final positions of the three teams in the playoffs will be decided via a quotient system.
Jeremiah dropped to a 6-2 record, but is already assured of the No. 3 spot. It will meet Hosea tomorrow for the last game of the season.
Scores:
First Game
Nehemiah 66—Capalad 16, Artates 8, Olayrez 7, Cecilia 7, Canlas 6, Dayrit 4, Domingo 4, Teyshaun 2, Lansangan 2, Surima 2.
Jeremiah 63—Cequena 19, Peredo 12, Aranda 10, Gamboa 8, Lim 6, Ajoste 3, Ibanez 2, Sicat 1.
Quarterscores: 15-10, 35-30, 40-44, 66-63
Second Game
Daniel 113—Abuy 21, Lauron 20, Tabora 18, Esdrelon 15, Basa 12, Vinas 10, Puno 8, T. Alegre 7, R. Alegre 2.
Isaiah 78—Capalad 24, Pineda 23, Vargas 10, Cruz 8, Orpilla 6, Sumpay 4, Dela Luya 4, Dayrit 4.
Quarterscores: 24-16, 52-34, 91-52, 113-78