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Monday, June 24, 2002
Gems on a nosedive
By Rommel C. Manlosa
CASINO Ethyl Alcohol-sponsored Cagayan de Oro Amigos stunned the highly favored Cebuana Lhuillier Gems, 100-94, at the Mindanao Polytechnic State College Gym Sunday to stay at solo second in the Southern division of the MBA National Conference.
The defeat was the third setback of the Gems, who previously lorded it over the Amigos since 1999 season.
Professional Davao Eagles, on the other hand, raced to an 11-2 start and then held on to the lead to likewise hand RCPI Negros Slashers their third setback in four games, 108-87, in the opening tiff.
For the second time this conference, the Gems were outrebounded in a game by nine, 53-44, while allowing the Amigos to take 76 shots from the field.
Cagayan de Oro sank 34 of their attempts while the Gems nailed 31 of 77 attempts.
The Gems trailed, 22-19, after the first quarter, but came back to life at the turn as they out-scored Caga-yan de Oro, 31-26, leading to a 50-48 lead at the halftime break.
Good defense
However, the Amigos regrouped as they sank 10 of 20 attempts while the Gems made only 7 of 14 at the end of the third period. Cagayan de Oro took a five-point lead, 71-66, entering the fourth.
Cagayan then played good defense to thwart every Gems attempt to reverse the outcome of the game until the final buzzer.
After allowing the Slashers to come close, 26-24, after the first period, a close game ensued, accounting for seven lead changes and two deadlocks before Glenn Peter Yap wreaked havoc for the Eagles to move up, 83-67, after the third period.
In the final period, it was an all Mike Manigo show as the former Gems’ playmaking ability paved the way to Davao’s fourth straight win. Davao, which outrebounded the Slashers, 50-41, is the only unbeaten team in the tournament.
Manigo scored 14 points on top of 10 assists, while former Slasher Cid White topped Davao with 17 baskets. John Ferriols led the losing Southern conference kingpins with 18 points.
Davao made 42 of 88 shots, dished out 20 assists, was 7-of-7 in Blitz 3 attempts and gave up only three turnovers against Negros’ 12. |
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