Alberto's Pizza now 4-0; Viliran lifts Phat Thursday to victory

CEBU, Philippines - Alberto’s Pizza pounded the CDU Reapers, 67-51, for its fourth straight win in as many starts in the 5th Lucky Tableware Regulars Basketball Tournament at the Visayan Glass Gym in Brgy. Guadalupe, this city.

Martin Grogaard exploded with 25 points and Mark Villagonzalo banged in 19 markers for Alberto’s Pizza, which was in complete command of the match since taking an early 13-9 lead. By the end of the third period, they were already ahead by 14 points, 50-36, and eventually turned it into a 16-point rout.

In the other game, team captain Michael Viliran hit a jumper with six seconds left in the contest to vault Phat Thursday Resto Bar to a 69-66 victory over the stubborn Visayan Ballers.

Led by Dax Navarro, the Visayas Ballers clawed back from 15 points down and pulled within just a hairline, 65-66, but Viliran’s played the hero’s role by sinking the game-clinching shot. Viliran finished with 16 points.

The scores

First game

Phat Thursday (69) - Pancho 23, Viliran 16, Orosio 10, Seroy 8, Abella 6, Valiente 4, Cañeda 2

Visayan Ballers (66) - Hendive 20, Abella 14, Rodriguez 9, Abellanosa 8, Ho 3, Cañete 3, Consunji 3, Boniao 2, Caseñas 2, Ubod 2

Quarterscores:24-14, 37-32, 53-47, 69-66

Second game

Alberto’s Pizza (67) - M. Grogaard 24, Villagonzalo 19, Tandan 12, Chua 4, Bero 4, Alvarez 3

CDU Reapers (51) - Emil 10, Datan 9, Janos 9, Martin 7, Alfie 6, Keith 4, Vercuiel 2, Corominas 2, Alden 2

Quarterscores:13-9, 31-24, 50-36, 67-51-  THE FREEMAN