POSTED BY: Eurobasket Center
APC Brother and Toyota Ol'Aces I remained deadlocked on top of the 2004 Budweiser Cup standings after both teams registered wins Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.
Brothers notched its 12th win in 13 games after routing Lebwel, 92-74, in the first game despite playing minus leading scorer Freddie Peliseman and do-it-all swingman Ed Diaz.
The team started out slow but got a lift from guard Tony Diaz early on and led 23-18 after the first quarter.
Playmaker Rick Alegre took the controls in the second quarter and also made his presence felt in the offensive end, scoring 8 points to give Brothers a 43-33 spread at intermission.
Diaz went back to his scoring mode in the third, erupting for 10 points. Six-foot-four colossus Oscar Ada also had his way inside, scoring 6 points as well as blocking a number of Lebwel attempts in the period.
The rout was on and Brothers led 74-52 going into the fourth and final quarter.
It was more of the same in the last 10 minutes of the ballgame, as Brothers continued to pour in the points, while Lebwel was happy merely exchanging shots the rest of the way.
Diaz led all Brothers with 29 points, while Alegre and Ada banged in 14 and 12 points, respectively. Ben Peliseman paced Lebwel with 21 points. Brother Randy added 18 and Taula Peter 17 points in another losing cause for Lebwel.
While their top rival cruised to victory, Ol'Aces I labored hard to make it to 12 wins after Diablo gave them trouble in the nightcap.
It actually didn't appear Diablo would have the Toyota squad sweating for the win, especially after the latter built 10- and 13-point leads after the first and second quarters.
Ol'Aces I also appeared safe after heading into the final canto with a mammoth 73-53 lead. But it seemed nobody bothered to tell Diablo swingman Dave Sablan that fact.
The 5'8" scoring machine suddenly went on a scoring spree in the payoff period, firing 14 of his game-high 35 points in the quarter.
Fortunately, Sablan and Diablo would run out of time, allowing Ol'Aces I to slither away with the 3-point win, 87-84.
Hard-working forward Peter Camacho led Ol'Aces I with 18 points, while Edsel Mendoza backed him up with 14 of his own.
Brothers Steve and Ponce Rasa supported Sablan's gargantuan effort with 16 and 11 points each.
First Game
Brothers 92 - Ton. Diaz 29, Alegre 14, Ada 12, Awes 10, Ito 9, Tom. Diaz 8, Manibusan 6, Ayuyu 2, Tudela 2.
Lebwel 74 - B. Peliseman 31, R. Peliseman 18, Pater 17, Camacho 4, Pangelinan 4.
Scoring by quarters: 23-18, 43-33, 74-52, 92-74.
Second Game
Ol'Aces I 87 - P. Camacho 18, Mendoza 14, Rangamar 13, White 13, Iginoef 12, A. Camacho 8, Celis 7, Tagabuel 2.
Diablo 84 - Sablan 35, S. Rasa 16, P. Rasa 11, Masga 10, Aaron 6, Aguon 4, Villanueva 2.
Scoring by quarters: 27-17, 45-32, 73-53, 87-
