Tuesday, October 02, 2007 Agilas fall to ML Kwarta Padala By Marianne Saberon-Abalayan
THE Duterte Agilas, bannered by a handful of new players, couldn't get their acts together and succumbed to M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala, 70-93, in the 2007 Mindanao-Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Sunday night at the Davao City Recreation Center.
The Agilas, supported by Goldstar Hardware and playing under new coach Dindo Pastor, played poor defense most of the game and were completely blown off the court in the face of a spirited performance by the visiting team.
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte's executive assistant and city sports coordinator Christopher "Bong" Go offered no excuses with the loss.
"What do you want me to say about the game? The Agilas still need to jell and need a center and an outside shooter. We admit we really couldn't beat MLKP with the kind of players they have now," Go said.
Bruce Dacia, acquired from three-time NBC champion Ozamiz Cotta, lifted the Jewelers with 19 points, five rebounds, one assist and one steal for the best player of the game honors.
Marlon Basco, a two-time NBC Cup MVP while still playing for Ozamiz, added 13 while sweet-shooting Stephen Padilla and Ron Capati scored identical 12 points for the Yayoy Alcoseba-mentored Jewelers.
John Gonzaga drilled 16 points to lead the Agilas. Former University of Mindanao (UM) Wildcats' Eder Saldua, who contributed 10 points for the Agilas, had many outside attempts at the basket but failed to convert them.
The Jewelers led as much as 21 points, 58-37, with five minutes and 15 seconds left in the third quarter.
But the Agilas rallied to come close, 57-65, barely 10 seconds left.
The Agilas's defense and offense, however, collapsed at the start of the final quarter paving the way for the Jewelers to convert offensive rebounds into points.
The Jewelers also took advantage of the Agilas' series of turnovers and never looked back to seal the win, a vindication of their 70-86 loss to the Manny Pacquiao (MP) Warriors of General Santos in Digos City.
