Tuesday, December 18, 2007 Don Bosco score first win in Partners Cup
THE cellar dwellers in the Reinforced Partners Cup parted ways with Unilab/Alaxan-Don Bosco Greywolves breaking their winless run after running over R. Lapid’s Chicharon-University of Southern Philippines Foundation, 83-75, at the Talisay City gym last Sunday.
The Greywolves took advantage of their size to overpower the smaller R. Lapid Panthers. Lester Sunga, Ricmar Perturbos and Jefford Aldave made good use of their height to easily trounce R. Lapid, which failed to capitalize on the presence of its former hotshot Aries Gloria.
Apart from the trio, Celso Colegado was also another force to reckon with for Unilab/Alaxan as he spurted with 16 markers. Sunga topscored for Unilab with 17, while Perturbos and Aldave had 14 and 13, respectively.
Unilab now improved its slate, tallying its first win after losing three other games. USPF, on the other hand, spiraled further down after losing its third straight game.
In the main game, Aspac Bank-University of Cebu Webmasters sneaked past the Metro Gaisano-Cebu Institute of Technology Wildcats, 95-90, to take its third straight win.
As star center Junmar Fajardo accounted for the bulk of Aspac’s basket, much of Metro Gaisano’s foiled attempts in attacking the basket was also courtesy of the 6-foot-7 Fajardo, who kept a close watch at the post. Fjardo also kept CIT’s star import Jerry Jaca at bay.
Aspac Bank’s fate was decided virtually in the first three minutes of the game as they rushed to a 16-2 run led by Allain Abellanosa, Fajardo and import player Miguelito Ducay.
Aspac-UC was able to pad its lead to 20, 41-21 halfway in the second round. However, the celebration was too early for the Webmasters as the Wildcats suddenly jolted back to life and initiated an intense rally to slice the lead to just 10, 40-50 going into the penultimate round.
The Metro Gaisano squad of coach Alex dela Torre was able to pull in closer and overhauled the earlier 20-point deficit and leveled the game at 52-all in the third period after a 12-2 run anchored on fiery guard Sherwin Abobo and Jaca.
However, Jaca spoiled the run and arrested the momentum when he was called for traveling and turned over ball possession to Aspac, which then converted five straight points behind Abellanosa and Fajardo. From this point on, Metro Gaisano never managed to claw back into the game.
Fajardo, continued his tournament-long excellence and once more topscored for his team with 27 points. Abellanosa added 17, while Kane Abatayo had 14.
Aspac is now tied on top of the standings with University of San Jose-Recoletos Jaguars with identical 3-0 records. Jaca and Abobo scored 24 points each for Metro Gaisano which fell to 1-2. (MCB)
