Da Doctors kept the first masters division game of the season close in the first quarter, trailing Wings Travel, 19-13, behind a strong start from Jun Abedes, who scored his jersey number, eight, in those first ten minutes.
Wings Travel’s Tony Diaz also scored eight in the first, while his teammate, Edsol Mendoza scored six to hold off Da Doctors.
Their team posted 15 more in the second, but only led Da Doctors by eight heading into halftime, 34-26.
But once the third quarter began, Wings Travel played their game and had a balanced scoring attack, outscoring Da Doctors, 32-18 in that period, almost equaling their output in the first two quarters. They went into the final quarter up by 22, 66-44.
When the fourth quarter started, Da Doctors couldn’t heal themselves in time as Wings Travel made sure they kept the lead for good. They posted 24 more in the final ten minutes, just to be sure, and came up with a 31-point victory.
Wings Travel’s Diaz was the game’s top scorer with 27 points, while teammate Mendoza helped him out with 23 markers.
Abedes led Da Doctors’ losing effort with 19 points, while Ray Lizama had 12 of his own.
Scores:
Cabalen-Wings Travel 90 – Diaz 27, Mendoza 23, Cruz 10, Macoto 8, Yawng 6, Santos 4, F. Palacios 4, Rebuyon 4, Verano 2, Morales 2
VisMinda-Da Doctors 59 – Abedes 19, Lizama 12, J. Palacios, Bugay 6, Manipon 4, Suda 4, Amasan 3, Garcia 1
Quarter scores: 19-13, 34-26, 66-44, 90-59
SIP 80, Jets 73
After being outplayed in the first three quarters, SIP surmounted an impressive comeback and went on to win their first game by defeating the Jets, 80-73.
The third game of the UFO Youth & Masters Basketball League-Docomo Pacific Cup proved to be a great showdown between two great youth teams.
The Jets was clearly in control for three straight quarters with offensive production from most of their players.
They led 15-10 after one, but broke the game open in the second, scoring 25 and went into halftime, up 40-26.
SIP came out of intermission with a sense of urgency and posted 26 in the third, but still trailed by 16, going into the final ten minutes of play.
With their backs against the wall, SIP left everything on the court in those final ten minutes, scoring 28 big ones to the Jets’ 15.
SIP’s Niko Salem capped off the double-digit comeback with six free throws in the final quarter.
Salem and his teammate Bryle Alegre led the way for SIP with 16 each.
Sahj Hossain was the Jets’ top gunner with 19 points. Eugene Manglona had 18 good ones for his team. Their ball club failed to keep their comfortable lead secured, and as a result, they start the season in the loss column.
Scores:
SIP 80 – Ni. Salem 16, Alegre 16, Aranda 10, Ne. Salem 8, Cenir 6, Darag 6, Palacios 6, Guerrero 4, Saturno 4, De Guzman 4
Jets 73 – Hossain 19, Manglona 18, Webb 5, Pena 5, Benavente 5, Caro 4, Deleon Guerrero 4, Duenas 4, Cadiang 4, De Leon 3, Sambile 3
Quarter scores: 10-15, 40-26, 52-68, 80-73
