By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

JEREMIAH kept its bid for the pennant alive after downing Elijah, 70-66, in the 2nd Calvary International Mission-Filipino Community Church Inter-Color Basketball League-Genesis Invitational Cup last Monday at the CIM-FCC court in Gualo Rai.
The victory improved Jeremiah’s record to 4-1 tying Daniel in second place. Jeremiah and Daniel are a win away from league-leading Joshua (5-1).
Errol Peredo topscored for Jeremiah with 17 points, but it was Kevin Cequena’s fourth-quarter explosion that saved their team against the hard fighting Elijah.
Cequena drilled 10 of his 15 points in the payoff period to lift Jeremiah to a four-point victory.
Cequena’s fourth-quarter scoring spree helped him redeem himself from a dismal performance in the first half, in which the Jeremiah gunner scored only five points.
The former Rotary cager nailed all his five points in the first quarter, which ended with Jeremiah leading by only three, 20-17.
With Omar Ajoste and Ronnel Gamboa hitting their marks in the second quarter, Jeremiah padded the lead to 10 at halftime, 38-28.
Jeremiah held Elijah to 11 points in the second period with only Jeff Galvez drilling more than one fieldgoal for the losing team.
It was Jeremiah’s turn to struggle offensively in the third quarter with Cequena limited to only two points and the entire team tallying 10 markers.
Peredo helped Jeremiah keep the driver’s seat at the end of the third period, 48-46, as he scored six markers in that canto.
Cequena picked up where Peredo left off in the fourth quarter to give Jeremiah its fourth win in five games in the 10-team tournament.
Ajoste was the other double-figure scorer for Jeremiah with 12 points.
Ruther Demegillo led Elijah with 27 points, but it was not enough to prevent his team from dropping to a 3-3 record.
Meanwhile, Joshua moved to the top of the team standings after pounding Isaiah last Thursday, 87-56.
Joshua had six players scoring in double figures with Jeff Garcia and Mike Achas leading the way with 16 markers apiece.
After poor shooting in the second quarter firing only nine points, Joshua, which was down by two at halftime, 25-27, recovered big at the start of the second half scoring 35 points in the third period.
Joshua grabbed the lead at the end of the third canto, 60-37 and never looked back.
Gideon also won last Thursday whipping the depleted Hosea, 67-59.
It was Gideon’s first victory in six games tying Hosea at the bottom of the team standings. Hosea played with only six players.
Scores:
Monday Game:
Jeremiah 70—Peredo 17, Cequena 15, Omar 12, Gamboa 9, Lim 6, Ibanez 2, Flores 2, Roman 2.
Elijah 66—Demegillo 27, Galvez 18, Demapan 12, Siriban 9.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 38-28, 48-46, 70-66
Thursday Games:
Joshua 87 - Achas 16, Garcia 16, L. Palero 11, Pe 10, Marasigan 10, Fitial 10, Rebuyon 8, R. Palero 4, Gapor 2.
Isaiah 56 - Capalad 26, Manolo 12, Sumpay 4, Conti 4, Dela Luya 4, Pineda 4, Sacdalan 2.
Quarterscores: 16-12, 25-27, 60-47, 87-56.
Gideon 67 - Banatasa 23, Mauricio 13, Jo. Pineda 10, Obnimaga 7, Cortez 6, Dela Rama 5, Ju. Pineda 3.
Hosea 59 - Basa 28, Babauta 18, Camacho 6, Batallones 4, E. Guinto 2, D. Guinto 1.
Quarterscores: 7-10, 17-24, 43-38, 67-59.