POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
Pacesetters Toyota Old Aces I and Angando Brothers separated themselves further from the pack after posting wins last Friday in the 2004 Budweiser Cup at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
In the first game, Old Aces (12-0) overwhelmed an upstart Sun Devils (4-6) team in the fourth quarter to win 86-72.
Sun Devils had their upset hopes running high in the first half, as Eric Weiman poured in 7 points to help the team erect an 18-13 spread after the opening quarter.
Ol'Aces I continued to shoot blanks in the second quarter with only mammoth center Abong Camacho providing the offensive spark. Sun Devils, meanwhile, continued with their inspired play and entered the halftime break with a 39-37 edge.
The match was still anybody's ballgame in the third quarter. But Ol'Aces I finally showed some consistency on both sides of the floor and took the driver's seat, 57-55, going into the last 10 minutes of the ballgame.
Then things would go out of hand for Sun Devils in the fourth period, as Ol'Aces I simply stepped on the accelerator and streaked to the 14-point victory.
Camacho led Ol'Aces with a game-high 24 points, while Romeo Iginoef, Edsel Mendoza, and Mel Tagabuel added 12 points apiece.
Former national player Gary Lashley paced Sun Devils with 17 points, while Weiman finished with 15 markers.
In the second game, Angando Brothers (12-1) ran Cougars (5-5) to the ground with a sleek running game and a tough interior effort to win 92-78.
Despite their lack of size, Cougars made a game out of it in the first half trailing Brothers by just four points, 21-17, after the first quarter and two points, 41-39, after the second.
But Brothers would heighten their defensive intensity come the third canto and this led to easy fastbreak opportunities that allowed the team to open up a 64-54 advantage going into the fourth and final quarter.
Oscar Ada then made good use of his 6'4" frame in the last 10 minutes, scoring 10 of his 16 points to propel Brothers to the easy win.
One-man fastbreak Tony Diaz was the highpoint man for Brothers with 21 points, while brother Ed added 17 markers. Cougars were led by the 23 points of Jun Artates and the 16 markers of Cris Domingo.
The Budweiser Cup takes a Holy Week sabbatical and will resume action on April 12 with Lebwel taking on Ol'Aces II in the opener starting at 7pm. The second game would then feature Diablo squaring off against Sunrisers at around 8:30pm.
FIRST GAME
Ol'Aces I 86 - A. Camacho 24, Iginoef 12, Mendoza 12, Tagabuel 12, P. Camacho 10, White 5, Celes 4, Ruluked 3, Santos 2, Ogumoro 1, Renguul 1.
Sun Devils 72 - Lashley 17, Weiman 15, Gross 12, Stephens 7, Nickerman 5, Gabaldon 5, Blundin 4, Burline 3, Wendall 2, Andrew 2.
Scoring by quarters: 13-18, 37-39, 57-55, 86-72.
SECOND GAME
Angando Brothers 92 - T. Diaz 21, E. Diaz 18, Ada 16, Peliseman 10, T. Diaz 8, Manibusan 7, Awes 6, J. Diaz 4, Alegre 1, Ayuyu 1.
Cougars 78 - Artates 23, Domingo 16, Villagomez 15, P. Lizama 9, Muleta 6, Mesa 6, R. Lizama 3.
Scoring by quarters: 21-17, 41-39, 64-54, 92-78.
