Royal Star, Organic bag crowns in Fil-Sino caging

NO. 3 Royal Star Trading completed its upset run, overwhelming top-seeded AACI Trading, 96-82 to be crowned Class A champs of the 2012 Fil-Sino All Asian Countertrade 1st conference inter-color tournament at TTHS Po Hang Gym.

In Class B action, Organic Solutions survived a late push by Jast Enterprises to claim the title, 72-65.

Royal Star peaked at the right time, as they also eliminated No. 2 Huminova Tigers in the semifinals.

AACI Trading started on the right track, leading 20-17 in 1st quarter behind Arvin Gustilo and Mark Binguan’s combined output of 15 points. Mark Lo scored 8 points for Royal.

Matthew Yap made 13 points in the 2ndquarter, equaling AACI Trading’s total quarter output. Royal Star also drew 8 points from Richard Uy to set the tone for a double digit lead at the break, 46-33. Robbie Jalando-on scored 10 of the 13 points for AACI Trading.

A balanced offensive by AACI Trading anchored on Peter Galon and Gustilo with 7 and 6 points, respectively cut the deficit to 65-58 going to the 4th quarter.

Jalando-on added 11 points and Gustilo scored 6 points, but it was not enough as Royal Star countered with Rey Pandoro’s 12 points and Kenderson Hao’s 6 points, as Royal Star romped away with the title.

Yap wound up with 18 points, Pandoro tallied 16 points, Lo delivered 13 points, Richard Uy hit 10 points, Hao, Vincent Tan and Brian Coo chipped in 8 points apiece, Devin Villacruz shot 7 points and Peter Paul Ortaliz contributed 6 points.

Jalando-on finished with a game-high 23 points in a losing cause, Gustilo added 20 points, Galon picked up 13 points, Binguan had 10 points and Julius Teruel delivered 7 points.

In the Class B encounter, the point guard spot was the waterloo for Jast Enterprises, as they succumbed to several turnovers, especially in the 2nd and 3rd quarter.

The front line advantage of Jast was also offset by the double and triple-teaming in the post, as Organic’s pesky defenders denied entry passes in the shaded area.

Jast Enterprises held a slim 17-16 lead in the 1st quarter, with Kevin Banzon and Christopher Mahinay combining for of 11 points against Brian Ong and Simon Tan producing the same output for Organic.

Alex Chua stepped up for Organic, scoring on his floaters for 10 points, and Ardian Ong added 5 points as they grabbed the lead at halftime 39-33, even as Kieron Tan scored 7 points and Eduardo Ng added 5 points for Jast.

With seven players scoring for Organic led by Chua’s 6 points, Organic extended the lead to 59-46 by the end of 3rd quarter.

Jast outscored Organic in the last quarter but Organic was able to fend off the rally and clinch the Class B title.

Jast’s Mahinay delivered 8 points and teammate Chipeng Uy added 6 points but time was not on their side, as they can only bring down the lead to 5 points.

Alex Chua finished with a game-high 22 points, backstopped by Simon Tan with 13 points, Brian Ong 8 points and Errol Su 6 points.

Mahinay was the lone double-digit scorer for Jast with 19 points. Kieron Tan shot 9 points, Chipeng Uy chipped in 8 points, Kevin Banzon had 7 points and Papang Oxinio tallied 6 points. (Stephen Tan)