By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

ISAIAH had a fourth-quarter explosion to notch a 75-59 win over Gideon in the 2nd Calvary International Mission-Filipino Community Church Inter-Color Basketball League-Genesis Invitational Cup last Thursday at the CIM-FCC court in Gualo Rai.
Isaiah nailed 34 points in the fourth period to post a 16-point win, its third in seven games.
The loss dropped Gideon to a 1-6 slate.
Gideon was still in the game at the end of the third quarter, as Isaiah was leading by only six, 41-35.
But Manolo Manalo and Meljun Capalad had plans in the fourth period and they helped Isaiah cruise to an easy triumph.
Manalo fired 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, while Capalad chipped in eight to foil Gideon’s repeated comeback attempts.
With Manalo and Capalad’s guns blazing, Isaiah outscored Gideon in the fourth quarter, 34-24. Capalad finished with 28 points.
With both teams determined to recover from their previous losses, Isaiah and Gideon battled neck and neck in the first half.
The first quarter ended in a deadlock, 12-all, as both teams struggled offensively.
Isaiah took the lead at halftime, but was up by only four, 25-21.
Capalad put Isaiah on top after 20 minutes of play, as he fired eight points in the second quarter. He was the lone Isaiah player to score a fieldgoal in the second period.
Gideon had his lowest output in the game in the second period, as it was held to nine points.
Capalad continued leading Isaiah in the second half adding six more points in the third quarter to keep his team in the driver’s seat.
He picked up where he left off in the fourth canto teaming up with Manalo in giving Isaiah its third victory.
Meanwhile, Daniel won via default over Samuel.
The victory improved Daniel’s record to 5-1 for a tie for the No. 1 spot with Joshua.
With the loss, Samuel dropped to a 1-4 record and must start collecting victories to have a chance to advance to the next round.
The regular season of the 2nd Genesis Cup has a round robin format with the pennant champion getting a bye in the first round of the playoffs and the three lowest-ranked teams getting an early vacation.
The six remaining squad will then play in a single-elimination playoffs and vie for the last three semifinals berths.