H2O Distilled Water wins Forty Aces crown

H20 Distilled Water drowned MSEI Marketing, 95-79, to capture the 1st Forty Aces MPC Christmas basketball tournament at the Visayan Glass gym.

H20 Distilled Water controlled the tempo as they led by 19 points, 37-18, by the end of the first quarter.

MSEI's Bebot Ancol and Jimlyn Campomanes sparked a fiery fun in the fourth quarter to slowly erase the deficit but their efforts proved futile as H20 rallied back and maintained its lead until the final whistle.

Paul Abais finished with a game-high 34 points, Bong Loquias chipped in 19 while Lito de los Angeles added 11 points.

Philips, on the other hand, battled downed the wire before getting past JRE Ranile Engineering Services, 72-67, to clinch third place.

Down by five points in last six minutes, Philips unleashed back to back baskets courtesy of Rene Excuyos and Audie Medina, however, it's was Bords Basalo's three-pointer in the last 60 seconds that saved Philips.

Escuyos posted 24 markers while Basalo added 19 points including three triples.

The scores

First game

H20 (95) - Abais 34, Loquias 19, de los Angeles 11, Samson 8, Marte 6, Palapar 4, Duran 4, Espinosa 4, Antonio 2, Gomos 2, Padriga 1

MSEI (79) - Ancot 25, Postrero 17, Campomanes 15, Anckermann 11, Rosales 3, Java 2, Pacana 2, Alegarme 2, Espinosa 2

Second game

Philips (72) - Escuyos 24, Basalo 19, Cartilla 10, Rivera 9, Divinagracia 5, Medina 5

JRE (67) - Lareta 20, Delfino 15, Tojoy 11, Gabutan 7, Ortiz 7, Cabarrubias 5, Ortega 2