Top Agro, BLBE, PNP score wins

Monday, January 30, 2012

THE Top Agro, BLBE Auto Repair Shop and Philippine National Police (PNP) Selection bested their respective rivals in the opener of the Duterte Basketball League (DBL)-Phoenix 36-Above Basketball Invitational Tournament held Sunday at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC).

Top Agro, an agricultural company, came from behind to hack out a 79-72 win over General Services Office (GSO).

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BLBE rolled over Maa-based Playsite, 87-78, while PNP locked up GSIS Riser, 92-62, in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP)-sanctioned cagefest presented by DBL and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. and organized by the Vice Mayor's Office through the initiative of Christopher "Bong" Go.

Down by six points with two minutes and 58 seconds left in the first period, Top Agro surged past GSO to snatch a 57-53 lead barely one minute left in the third canto.

Top Agro took advantage of GSO's crucial errors and costly turnovers to break away, 70-61, in the final five minutes and never looked back to secure the win.

Allan Josol and Philbon Malegro canned identical 14 points to lead Top Agro while Nonoy Pido made 15 for lawyer Marvin "Oying" Melodias-managed GSO squad.

Roderick Conda led the offense for BLBE as team manager Alex Almario sank three three-pointers in the third quarter rally with able support from veterans Bambi Santander, Nelson Montalban, Dodong Cagampang and Nick Serafica.

Playsite's Ronald Dumanlag said they will try to recover when games resume on Wednesday. Their key players Bong Marata, Jun Labaya and Rolan Reyes, who missed action Sunday, are expected to lead the charge for playsite.

Cash prizes at stake are P15,000 for the champion, P10,000 for the runner-up, P5,000 for third-placer and P3,000 for the fourth-placer.