Brandon Aulerio – scoring 18 points – ensured a running start as the Lions fell back six points in the first quarter.
Jerry Habijan paired off with a three-pointer and a jumper but the Rollers had already pushed ahead with seven baskets from Aulerio. Don Brennan added six points while Eubanks Travis blasted three straight shots. The Rollers made no signs of slowing down after a dominant 23-14 run in the second quarter.
Wens Namelo and Ben Iglesias came on scene and tallied a combined 10 points while Ham Hambros scored from a three-point field goal.
Lions’ Mark Madreo, Carl Aldan, and Aydan Gagaring each squeezed in a pair of baskets, but their uphill battle showed no improvement.
With a similar performance from the first half, the Rollers secured 22 points and allowed only 15 by the third quarter. Aulerio drove their main offense on six points, Pat Torres scored five, and Hambros piled four.
Leo Galarse swept the last 10 minutes with seven more points. Brennan and Torres garnered 11 each to seal the game.
Lions’ Carl Aldan top scored with 19 points.
The youth division’s playoffs will continue on September 24 and October 1. The championship round is set for October 8.
Scores:
Filcag-Rollers 93 – B. Aulerio 18, H. Hambros 12, D. Brennan 11, P. Torres 11, B. Iglesias 9, W. Namelo 8, E. Travis 8, L. Galarse 7, J. Kiyoshi 2
Laguna-S.U. Lions 72 – C. Aldan 19, L. Lapuz 14, J. Habijan 10, A. Gagaring 10, A. Manalili 6, M. Madreo 6, Habijan 2
Quarterscores: 22-14, 46-28, 68-43, 93-72
SIP edges Jets, 115-113 in OT
In a following game, the UFO witnessed its first overtime of the season as SIP-Aon/Flor defeated the AFP-Jets, 115-113.
Both teams tied 100-100 in the final quarter following two free throws from SIP’s Jaymark De Guzman and a three-pointer from Jets’ Ian Benavente.
Team SIP entered OT with free throw from Adrian Palacios, but the Jets fired back with five points from Benavente and Sahj Hossain.
Melvin Cadiang was later fouled, allowing him to score from two more three free throws. Cadiang hurried with two more baskets after Eugene Manglona’s layup, but it was too late.
Wiping his sweat from a wild second half, Palacios scored his 19th point for SIP. Both sides tied once again, 113-113 and had only seconds to land a final basket.
Darag eventually capped the game on a jumper, leaving the Jets out of time.
Scores:
SIP-Aon/Flor 115 – J. De Guzman 20, A. Palacios 19, Niven Salem 15, Nicko Salem 14, J. Darag 11, J. Cenir 10, J. Aranda 8, B. Alegre 8, M. Saturno 6, P. Mariano 4
AFP-Jets 113 – S. Hossain 29, E. Caro 24, I. Benavente 17, E. Manglona 11, J. Webb 8, K. Deleon 5, R. Deleon Guerrero 2, J. Aguilar 2
Quarterscores with overtime: 22-19, 38-38, 65-65, 100-100, 115-113
