BAGUIO CITY-The New Life ball club netted their first win in the 13th YMCA Cup Religious category against the Assembly of God squad in game two of their scheduled game last March 24, 2017 at the YMCA gym here.
New Life patiently went to the hoops in the first canto of play but hard shooting first quarter had the Assembly of God taking the driver’s seat, 11-10, at the end of the quarter. Both squads concentrated on their defensive strategies resulting to a slow paced game that limited both squads to another low output, with New Life slightly ahead, 14-13, to end the second canto of play to a tied ballgame, 24-all.
The third canto play became more exciting as both squads recorded five deadlocks in the period until the dying minutes of the third, 33-all. New Life took possession of the ball before the buzzer to convert two more field goals that brought them to the driver’s seat 37-34 at the end of third canto play.
Fourth canto action saw the Assembly of God squad exert more effort to take back the lead on the early minutes of play 42-41 before New Life got back into action, tying the ballgame at 46-all midway through the fourth canto play. they took back the lead as they converted a three pointer with a foul to boot that mobilized the team to continue their run to the last minute of play to get the ballgame, 60-50, leaving the Assembly of God squad with a ten point deficit at the end of the fourth canto buzzer.
Meanwhile, Team A saw action with Team C in the member’s category and had a running game to post a 24-18 blast at the first canto of play to be on the driver’s seat. With good ball rotation and players jellying well, Team A ran up another rally, 27-15, in the second canto of play to lead Team C by fifteen points, 51-36, to end the first half of play.
Even as Team C came out strong in the third canto of play and try to cut Team A’s lead, it went no avail as Team A continuously pounded them with a flurry of conversions in the field to retain the lead, 79-64, at the end of the third.
Fourth quarter action was a “No Mercy” act by Team A as they continuously controlled the boards, posting a 32-24 run, with remarkable conversions in the field. Team A won the game by 23 big points 111-88.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN
