Phoenix clips Cardinals to spoil mentor’s return

PHOENIX Allad-iw fended off a late fourth quarter rally by the UB Cardinals to pull off a 102-94 victory to set its title bid tone as the 2013 Panagbenga Cup Basketball Tournament at the Easter College Friday evening.

Johnny Pascua and Kevin Biscocho took turns in providing the much needed points down the stretch to join first day winner GWE in the open bracket of the tournament, which saw some 30 teams competing in the different brackets.

Pascua and Biscocho fired 34 and 22 points for Phoenix as it also spoiled the return of Joel Flores as bench tactician for the Cardinals who took a two year absence.

“We are just happy to win,” grinned Phoenix coach Joel Salvador.

Phoenix actually raced to a 15-4 advantage early in the ball game but the Cardinals swooped back to life to tie the ball game at 16 with 2:09 remaining in the ball game.

Pascua then fuelled Phoenix in the second period with his 20 huge points at the close of the first half to enjoy a 52-46 count.

But the Cardinals came fighting back in the third period to erase a seven point deficit on an 8-0 run courtesy of the sweet shooting Klayrhiel Elefante scoring a back to back triple to steal the lead at 67-68 with 2:21 remaining in the third period.

Phoenix then responded with a run of their own early in the pay-off canto as Biscocho fuelled the squad to double digit lead, 87-77, with 6:21 remaining.

Keff Occasion then sparked another rally for the Cardinals to pull them within three points, 83-80 but Phoenix countered with a 14-2 run with Biscocho and Pascua anchoring the run and pad their biggest lead at 12, 97-85 with 3:27 left.

Jo de Guzman added 13 points for Phoenix while Occasion top scored for the Cardinals with 19 points with playmaker Kevin Orduna adding 13.

Earlier, GWE hacked out a 103-72 win against Porta Vaga in the opener of the five team open bracket division.