RP-SMB five rips California State in US tour

CARSON CITY, California – Fresh from a 24-hour respite, RP-San Miguel came back with a vengeance, crushing Cal State-Dominguez Hills, an NCAA Division-II school, 90-71, at the Home Depot Training Center Friday.

A different starting lineup comprised of Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguioa, Tony dela Cruz, Ranidel de Ocampo and Asi Taulava set the tone for the match, opening a 7-0 lead that appeared to surprise the Dominguez Hills Toros.

Caguioa finished with 22 points while Danny Seigle came off the bench with 14.

Behind their leader Jamel Barnes, the Toros closed the gap halfway through the period. But the nationals’ second unit – Jimmy Alapag, Dondon Hontiveros, Kerby Raymundo, Mick Pennisi and Seigle – restored the advantage and set Team RP on the road to a 31-16 first quarter breakaway.

The Toros tried to rattle the Nationals with a 1-3-1 defense, but Renren Ritualo, Hontiveros and Pennisi brought Cal-State right out of the zone with long distance 3-pointers.

The lead was 48-28 at the half, a bulge the Nationals maintained at three quarters end 48-28.

"Unlike the first two games when our mentality was just to compete and execute, we went into this game with the mindset that we were out to win," said RP coach Chot Reyes.

"We practiced only until 12 noon yesterday, and got everyone back at 12 noon today, thus giving everyone a 24-hour break, and it showed in the energy. More than the win, what pleased me was our ball movement and the players’ selflessness."

The RP-San Miguel squad returns to the gym for its three-a-day practice today.

"We’ll see how well we play with fatigue next game," Reyes said.

SCORES:

RP-SAN MIGUEL 90 – Caguioa 22, Seigle 16, Dela Cruz 14, Pennisi 9, Raymundo 8,

Taulava 6, Hontiveros 4, Ritualo 3, Alapag 3, De Ocampo 3, Helterbrand 2.

CAL STATE-DOMINGUEZ – Ward 16, Walton 14, Steed 10, Nibo 9, Barnes 6, Love 4, Isaac 4, Fowler 2, Ramey 2, Duhon 2, Johnson 0.

Quarters: 31-16; 48-28; 70-50; 90-71