Winston Sergio (#48) tries to hold back Kamao’s Eric Dela Cuesta (#4). (Photo by: Madz Milana, Photoville International)

Eric Dela Cuesta scored nine of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to lead Malacañan Kamao to a stunning 73-61 triumph against the defending champions AFP Cavaliers on October 30.

The executive team currently has an unblemished record after four games, following their 92-77 rout of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Firefighters last October 23. Only two teams now in the league remain unbeaten as Duremdes-led Bureau of Customs (BOC) Transformers also has a 4-0 win-loss record.

The game featured a series of runs as both teams had a neck-and-neck battle inside the paint.

After trailing by six at the break, the defending champions went of fire in the start of the second half on a 12-2 blast led by back-to-back baskets from Alvin Zuñiga and Rolando Pascual to regain the lead, 38-34 with 6:04 in the clock.

Malacañan Kamao, led by Dela Cuesta who shot 2/2 from beyond the arc ignited an 18-7 run giving them the lead heading into the last 10 minutes of play, 52-45.

As fourth quarter resumes, Kamao’s John Michael Jimenez and Dela Cuesta took charge as they poured in a series of treys to give them the largest lead of the game, 66-50.

Jimenez finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds while Dela Cuesta also added four rebounds and four steals to his 26-point performance.

AFP, who did not play for 21 days, suffered their second-straight defeat of the season.

Sunday afternoon’s game was held at the Pasig City Sports Center.

NHA Improves Record to 2-2

Rene Boy Banzali (#7) goes up and under for the basket. He finished with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal. (Photo by: Lian San Miguel Opol, Photoville International)

In the battle of the bottom teams in Group A, NHA Builders used a 12-3 surge in the final three minutes of the game to stun GSIS Furies, 86-79.

The Furies led halfway in the final quarter as Rohan June Bayon made a triple from the top of the arc, 76-74.
Alvin Vitug of NHA drilled a dagger three followed by Antonio Lustestica layup to secure their second win of the season.

Marvin Mercado and Alvin Vitug were hailed as best players of the game as they delivered 22 and 21 points respectively.

BFP Eliminates Senate

Don Conrad Macato (#7) goes to the hoop for a layup. (Photo by: Madz Milana, Photoville International)

The BFP Firefighters bounced back from a 15-point loss against Malacañan after thrashing the listless Senate Defenders, 90-78.

Despite missing senators Sonny Angara and Joel Villanueva who both went to the United States to support their colleague Manny Pacquiao on his upcoming fight next week, the Defenders started strong in the opening quarter after leading BFP by as much as 14 points, 23-9.

Rommel Balboa and Emmanuel Baltazar led the scoring for Senate who hooped a combined 43 points.

The rest of the game saw BFP took charge as they outscored Senate in the last three quarters, 76-54. With the loss, Senate were booted out of the competition on a 0-5 win-loss record.

Gilbert Malabanan of BFP delivered 24 points, pulled off eight boards, two assists and two steals.

BFP’s Anthony Lim and Michael Sanchez went on fire from beyond the arc. Both delivered four triples each to finish with 22 and 14 points respectively.

The Firefighters goes on solo second in Group A with three wins on four outings.

Team Standings
Group A
Malacañan Kamao 4-0
BFP Firefighters 3-1
MMDA Blackwolves 2-2
AFP Cavaliers 2-2
Ombudsman Graftbusters 1-2
Senate Defenders 0-5
Group B
BOC Transformers 4-0
PNP Responders 2-1
Judiciary Magis 2-1
NHA Builders 2-2
HOR Solons 2-2
GSIS Furies 1-3
DOJ Justice Boosters 0-4

Written by: John Kenneth B. Jaramilla