BAGUIO CITY – Ruiz Optical Clinic (ROC) Team B garnished a win against Town’s Pizza in last Monday, July 31, 2017, 81-78, while Quest stopped the Dacanay Printers, 97-91, to record their first wins in the 14th YMCA Cup.
After a long see-saw first canto for Bracket M, the Pizza Men slightly edged ROC, 18-16, at the end of the first canto of play. The Pizza Men continuously fired up to maintain in an effort to hold the driver’s seat. They controlled the second canto of play, and piled up their lead to nine points at the end of the second canto, 39-30.
Sensing they are lagging behind, ROC began strategized their offense, a move that bolted them to a 27-14 run and chipping off the Pizza men’s lead by seven to the end of the third quarter behind by only two points, 56-54.
Squabbling for position, both ball clubs got themselves entangled on a tight contest jockeying for the lead at the onset of the fourth quarter until its last minute. With the dying second slowly ticking, both clubs are engaged on a deadlock, 78-all.
The Pizza Men gave up three consecutive fouls to send ROC to the line and each time resulted to a split to end the match.
A foul on an ROC possession that sent Earl Boado to the fifteen foot line. Boado converted one of two to give ROC a solitary point advantage, 79-78. Another foul on the floor to stop the clock sends Alain Ramos, who also splits for an 80-78 ROC. Another foul by the Pizza Men finally send Donald Colanta to the line. Colanta promptly ditched one of two free throws to give ROC the three point win.
Meanwhile, Quest built an early lead substantial enough to take advantage of their chance to complete a win over Dacanay Printing Shop also last July 31. They attempted to dominate from the first canto while building a five point lead ,26-21, but the Printers also quickly got back on the game, chipping off the deficit to get close to the Quest, just two points shy at 41-43, to end the first half of play with.
Quest got back for a second breath of air to start the third and found their mark on the boards. They continuously pampered the Printers with their field goals coupled by good defensive strategies to control the boards to lead by ten points at the end of the third canto buzzer 70-60.
The printers also tried finding a second wind and went all-out in the final canto. They bucketed 31 against during the fourth but then also allowed 27 to Quest to trim off the lead but still fall short, yielding the win to Quest who steadily hang on to their lead.
By: BOBBY VINLUAN