The Orange, Yellow and Green teams scored their first wins in the opening of the 2007 Forty Aces Christmas Basketball Tournament at the Visayan Glass Gym in Guadalupe.
The Green Team came from behind to beat the Blue Team, 65-61, Yellow defeated Maroon, 81-60, while Orange drubbed visiting team Sunrisers, 83-55.
After a short opening program, the Green and Blue teams started the ball rolling for the tournament.
Blue was in control for three periods and was still in the driver’s seat halfway in the fourth period when Green made its move.
After Blue’s Paul Abais hit two triples with five minutes left, Green’s Benrubs Delfin, Jimlines Campomanes and Roel Monterroyo answered back and gave Green a one-point lead, with one minute left in the ballgame. Green was able to pad the lead in its next possession and protected it until the final buzzer sounded.
Yellow Team’s Mario Bihag and Austin Rebollido alternated in shackling Maroon’s hotshot Dito Bejoc and limited him to 14 points. While Bejoc had difficulty scoring, Yellow’s players had a heyday from start to finish to help their team post a convincing 81-60 victory.
Bong Loquias topscored for Yellow with 13 points followed by Amor Ancot and Cesar Pandong with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Only Bejoc, with 14 markers, could score in double figures for the Maroons.
The Orange Team spoiled the Sunrisers with a balanced attack that had all its players score at least two points. Team Orange took advantage of the seven-man Sunrisers, who couldn’t keep up with the pace the Orange team set.
Noel Piquero led the winners with 23 points while Rick Anckermann chipping in 14 points. George Uy paced the visitors with 15 points with Paul Quinanola hitting 10 points.
The scores
First Game:
Green (65) – Delfino 10, Postero 10, Campomanes 8, Ranile 8, Monterroyo 7, Bebe Sayson 6, Boy Sayson 4, Duran 2, Cabarrubias 2, Abella 2, Cartilla 2, Hapitan 2, Gabutan 2
Blue (61) – Abais 16, Bajo 9, Alvelda 7, Molina 6, Cartilla 6, Gomos 5, Lareta 4, Pacana 2, Paez 2, Zabate 2, Ibon 2
Second Game:
Yellow (81) – Loquias 13, Ancot 11, Pandong 10, Lorenzo 9, Bihag 9, Rosales 5, Bullo 5, Tecson 4, Samson 3, Alcoseba 2, Padriga 2, Morales 2, Rebollido 2, Jakosalem 2, Cane 2
Maroon (60) – Bejoc 14, Legaspi 7, Uy 7, Dayondon 7, Basalo 5, Alvarez 4, Sendrijas 3, Murillo 3, Java 2, Lazaga 2, Espinosa 2, Almencion 2, Duma 2
Third Game:
Orange (83) – Piquero 23, Anckermann 14, Palapar 10, Medina 7, Chu 6, Ortiz 6, Caballero 6, Rivera 5, Nonol 4, Castaneda 4, Tojoy 2, Modequillo 2.
Sunrisers (55) – Uy 15, Quinanola 10, Aranduque 9, Salinas 8, Maranga 6, Galope 4, Chin 3 — Ruben A. Delfino