La Trinidad – The Levites and the KTB Apostles had to suffer anxious moments during the first three quarters of their Season 3 Laity games at the San Jose gym here last June 25 before pulling up a fourth canto surge to pull away from the tight game. Then Brethren, on the other hand, built a humongous lead in the first quarter and coasted the rest of the way to victory.
Benjie Madriaga got the Levites of with a good start, scoring 15 first quarter points to lead them to a nine point first quarter lead, 21-12, a Sacred Heart run cut the lead to just two, late in the fourth. Madriaga and Chris Pacdit, then buried a key triple each to ignite the counter attack and ice the game.
CCDC also got off to a great start and looked good to get their first win at the expense of the KTB Apostles when Butch Diaz score seven while Rodel Boncato had four to establish a 12-5 lead midway through the first quarter. Rey Gabino, however, got hot and scored 11 points in to lead a 14-7 counter attack and knot the score, 19-all, after the first canto.
A see-saw battle ensued during the next two quarters with the Apostles going up only by three at the end of the third. When action resumed for the fourth canto, Gabino then dropped eight points and combined with Jeffrey Buton, who had six, to ignite a 18-8 fourth quarter surge to pull away and pocket the win.
In the last game of the night, Vonn Padilla scored 10 while Clifton Agasen had nine right in the first quarter to enable the Brethren to put the Holy Knights into a big 19 point hole and simply coasted the rest of the way to get their fourth win.
The Brethren were clicking on all cylinders that night that the Knights could not find a defense for their hot shooting. The Brethren were so hot that they even increased a 22-point third quarter lead to 29 at the final buzzer.
The scores:
First game:
Levites 83: Benjie Madriaga 32, John Rex Bawang 20, Chris Pacdit 13, Cipriano Comiles, Sr. 12, Brian Camhit 2, Edgar Monsalod 2, Allan Contero.
Sacred Heart 76: Jonathan Raet 33, Kirby Dela Paz 17, Derek Mercado 14, Jose Puyao, Jr. 8, Jonald Guyon 2, Willie Leyva 2, Earl Villanueva, Ian Falcasantos, Jayvee Macuha, Jowen Nang-is.
Quarterscores: 21-12, 39-36, 61-54, 83-76. 3 Pt shots made: Madriaga 3, Pacdit 2, Raet 9.
Second game:
KTB Apostles 80: Rey Gabino 29, Jeffrey Buton 25, Eric Aoay 11, Jovencio Caleno 9, Prudencio Basquial 6, Hoven Bolislis 2, Rholinson Paleng 2, Arnel Cobaldez, Gusval Bolislis, Haggard Pantaleon.
CCDC 69: Rodel Bongcato 21, Butch Diaz 18, Jaylord Maluyo 12, Kurt Panagan 10, Nestor Cuilan 8, Dixon Agosto, Jayvee Basilio, Jordan Tagle, Joseph Bernal.
Quarterscores: 19-all, 30-29, 58-55, 84-69. 3 Pt shots made: Aoay 1, Basquial 1, Diaz 3, Bongcato 1, Panagan 1.
Third game:
Brethren 121: Vonn Padilla 28, Clifton Agasen 27, Mark Galian 21, Xander Batanes 15, Jefferson Dennis 14, Justin Benter 12, Charston Cho 4.
Holy Knights 92: Rosilo Kitab 25, Erick Pamogas 22, Nico Caliging 19, Chester Zambrano 13, Bob Cabellan 10, Allan Jimeno 3, Kidler Balagsa.
Quarterscroes: 37-18, 55-38, 79-57, 121-92. 3 Pt shots made: Padilla 3, Dennis 2, Agasen 1, Batanes, Benter 1, Kitab 4, Caliging 1, Jimeno 1.