BAGUIO CITY – Insuns and Parapad won again last Sunday, January 21, at the Piraso Resort, here, during the 3rd Piraso Cup to remain the only unbeaten teams and grab the top spot in the leader board.
The Insuns overcame the height advantage of Time Out, reinforced by “Foreign Joe” who contributed the rebounds and shot blocks that gave the Insuns a hard time scoring.
While swatting the basketball like it was a volleyball might be the line of defense for Timeout, Insuns’ coach Vereck Ruiz flashed a brilliant counter, sending Estrada to the three point area to spread the floor. Estrada converted three triples while enabling Paul Almazora to penetrate the shaded area bolstered the Insuns in the first canto, 18-12.
Using both the outside and inside shooting abilities of key players Rene “Ninja” Laguit and Dhondie “Gab” Colanta, got in assists and ball recoveries as well as baiting the fouls of Parapad. The technique pad the lead of the Insuns, 32-21, at halftime.
Timeout started the third quarter with a 13-11 see-saw battle then spread their defense to contain Insuns better. It resulted in a a 31-19 run that spilled over the fourth quarter.
The Insuns, however, answered back with two triples to restore a 67-60 lead, 40 seconds left on the clock and coasted to a four point victory, 69- 65, as the fourth canto buzzer sounded off the end of the game..
Meanwhile, Parapad also got their second win at the expense of Alejo.
The game opened with a 18-all first canto count. Parapad continued controlling the boards while pushing harder with a change of defense strategy, resulted with a 22-9 run to end of the first half of play with a 40- 27.
Trying to chip off the lead, Alejo came back with an 26-18 blast to inch closer, however, the rally was not enough when Parapad came out strong and responded with a counter run to maintain their lead.
Alejo, tried a last ditch effort to gain momentum in the fourth. It again posted a 19-10 blast but Parapad countered again to end the game with a 12 p;oint advantage, 76-64.
Other winners in last Sunday’s games are Brothers over Mager, 76-69; and Piraso over the Kanto Boys 78-65.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN
