By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

The battle for the pennant in the 2nd Calvary International Mission-Filipino Community Church Inter-Color Basketball League-Genesis Invitational Cup is getting tighter following Joshua and Jeremiah’s victories last Monday at the CIM-FCC court in Gualo Rai.
Joshua clobbered Nehemiah in the first game, 86-60, while Jeremiah whipped Caleb, 93-81, in the second match.
The win improved Joshua’s record to 6-1 and put them on top of the team standings.
Jeremiah is just a win away from tying Joshua in the leaderboard with its 5-1 record. Jeremiah now shares the No. 2 spot with Daniel.
Joshua has two games left, while Jeremiah and Daniel have three matches remaining in the regular season, which has a single round robin format.
The last few weeks of the 10-team tournament will be crucial for the three teams that will be vying for the pennant crown.
Larry Palero led Joshua’s 26-point win, as he nailed 14 of total points in the second half
He started things out for Joshua scoring six in the first period. Joshua led by only a point at the end of the first quarter, 12-11, then held Nehemiah to 10 points in the second period up the lead to seven at halftime, 32-25. No Nehemiah player scored more than one fieldgoal in the second quarter
With Fitial, who was scoreless in the first quarter, finding his marks in the third period nailing six points and Mike Achas and Gil Gapor adding five apiece, Joshua increased the lead to 19, 56-37, entering the payoff period.
Nehemiah struggled offensively anew in the third quarter scoring only 12 points. It tried to bounce back in the fourth quarter drilling 20 markers.
But Palero was there to stop Nehemiah’s rally, as he fired 12 points in the fourth period and Joshua still outscored Nehemiah, 28-20, in that canto.
Palero finished with 23 points, while Fitial added 18. Jeff Garcia and Aches contributed 14 and 13 markers, respectively.
In the second game, Jeremiah recovered from a slow start to claim its fifth win.
Jeremiah scored only six points in the first quarter, which Caleb controlled leading by 12, 18-6.
But Jeremiah returned big in the second half exploding for 30 points with Jon Lim, Errol Peredo and Ronnel Gamboa teaming up.
Peredo scored eight, while Lim and Gamboa added seven and six in the second period, which ended with Jeremiah stealing the driver’s seat, 36-32.
Peredo continued to lead Jeremiah in the second half, as he added six more points in the third period to keep his team on top, 56-45.
But Peredo’s best showing came in the fourth quarter, as he nailed 15 points and outgunned JR Barrios, who had 13 in the final canto, but failed to help Caleb grab the win.
Peredo topscored for Jeremiah with 31 points, while Lim and Omar Ajoste chipped in 15 markers apiece.
Ronald Delos Reyes led Caleb with 24 points, while Barrios finished with 23, but their efforts were not enough to prevent Caleb from dropping to a 3-3 record.
Scores:
First Game
Joshua 86—L. Palero 23, Fitial 18, Garcia 14, Achas 13, R. Palero 6, Gapor 5, Pe 3, Rapanut 2.
Nehemiah 60—Artates 16, Capalad 11, Llagas 10, Elbo 8, Camacho 7, Badilles 5.
Quarterscores: 12-11, 32-25, 56-37, 86-60
Second Game:
Jeremiah 93—Peredo 31, Omar 15, Lim 15, Gamboa 11, Reyes 7, Roman 7, Cequena 4.
Caleb 81—Delos Reyes 24, Barrios 23, Carino 14, Samson 10, Salazar 8, Tengco 2.
Quarterscores: 6-18, 36-32, 56-45, 93-81