Dazz puts in dazzling performance vs Sunkist

BALANGA, BATAAN – Dazz Dishwashing Liquid controlled the tempo throughout to beat Sunkist-Pampanga, 71-59, and complete the upper bracket cast in the second round elimination phase of the 2002 PBL Challenge Cup at the Bataan Peoples Center here.

Cyrus Baguio and Peter June Simon led Dazz with 22 and 17 points, respectively, as they caught the Bataeño crowd by storm with their awesome stunts and intensity that helped the Greasebusters close out the first round elims with a 4-4 record.

Dazz thus joined Welcoat Paints, Blu All-Purpose and LBC-Batangas in the upper bracket while Sunkist-Pampanga, 1-7, will be grouped with ICTSI, Montana Pawnshop, John-O and Cheese Balls-Shark in the lower bracket.

Each team will battle their groupmates in a single-round robin and the top three teams in the upper bracket after the second phase will automatically qualify for the crossover semifinals.

The fourth team will figure in a playoff for the last semis slot against the top team in the lower bracket.

Welcoat topped the first round of the elims as it ripped Blu, 88-63, for its seventh win against a single loss.

Romel Adducul made 20 points and 13 rebounds while Ronald Tubid delivered 16 points, Eddie Laure 14 and Ariel Capus 13.

"Mabait pa rin sa amin ang Diyos, kaya malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa Kanya," said Dazz coach Junel Baculi. "I told the boys that the real work begins in the second round. Our goal is to make it to No. 2, pero kung kaya, we’ll go all out for the No. 1 spot."

The Greasebusters were so dominant from the start that they took the first canto, 20-12, and went back to their dugout with a 40-26 lead in this first PBL out-of-town game in Bataan organized by Toby Tanjuatco through the valuable support of Bataan Governor Leonardo "Ding" Roman and Vice-Governor Rogelio "Boy" Roque.

The Juicers came close at 30-40 three minutes gone in the final half but Baguio and Simon went hot anew as they wrapped up the third period with a 55-36 margin.

They posted their biggest lead, 63-40, 7:18 left in the final period. Sunkist-Pampanga never came closer than 10 points.

Emmerson Oreta paced Sunkist Pampanga with 12 points while VJ Santos and Willy Wilson added 11 and 10 respectively.