Harbour on top

People's Journal
October 31, 2007

Games Saturday
(The Arena, San Juan)
2 p.m. – Harbour Centre vs Pharex
4 p.m. – RP Team vs Hapee Toothpaste

Harbour Centre, still a force to reckon with despite the absence of six key players, roared to its second straight win by drubbing Bacchus Energy Drink, 87-74, and gained a piece of the lead in the 2008 PBL V-Go Extreme Energy Drink Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Batang Pier came through with several spurts, including a telling 13-0 run in the final four minutes to frustrate the Bacchus Raiders in a win that enabled them to tie Hapee Toothpaste and Toyota Balintawak for the lead at 2-0.

Mercado Solomon, a prized find from Biola University in Los Angeles, led the Batang Pier’s siege this time, scoring 18 points, including 10 in the second quarter where Harbour Centre erected several 15-point leads.

In the second game, the Philippine team notched its third straight by repulsing Toyota Balintawak, 103-92.

The Nationals went to Chad Alonzo, Allan Salangsang, Patrick Cabahug and Jeff Chan in the first half before Castro and Belga took over to notch their third straight victory since dropping their opening game assignment.

The 6-foot-4 Alonzo was perfect from 2-point zone, making all his four tries, while Salangsang also converted his two tries to finish the half with nine and eight points, respectively.

The Nationals, bankrolled by Harbour Centre owner and amateur basketball godfather Mikee Romero, were threatened at 84-81, but Castro completed his steal off JV Casio and Belga hit an undergoal stab in a 12-5 salvo to weather off Toyota Balintawak’s rally.

Aside from Solomon, coach Jorge Gallent had Rico Maierhofer, Edwin Asoro and Joferson Gonzales to thank for as they stepped up big in the fourth that repelled Bacchus’ uprising.

The scores
Harbour Centre (87) — Mercado 18, Maierhofer 15, Asoro 14, Vergara 8, Gaco 7, Malabanan 6, Canizares 4, Gonzales 4, Taylor 3, Tang 3, Gamboa 2, Jahnke 0.
Bacchus (74) -– Thiele 20, Martinez 16, Mondragon 9, Dela Cruz 9, Fampulme 4, Llagas 4, Viardo 4, Dizon 3, Cagoco 3, Guevarra 2, Labagala 0, Mendoza 0.
Quarterscores: 24-14, 53-36; 67-55; 87-74.

RP Team (103) -– Castro 19, Belga 14, Bautista 13, Crisano 11, Salangsang 10, Chan 10, Alonzo 9, Cabahug 6, Fernandez 4, Dela Cuesta 4, Cruz 2, Tan 1.
Toyota Balintawak (92) -– Villanueva 17, Casio 14, Alcaraz 13, Sta. Maria 11, Jaime 8, Dedicatoria 8, Aldave 5, Balgos4, Faundo 2, Hayes 0, Walsham 0, Cole 0, Jazul 0.
Quarterscores: 26-16; 51-32; 74-62; 103-92.