Early Risers Take the Baskets

EARLY RISERS TAKE THE BASKETS

by Leo C. Diarios (PBL Official Sports Writer)

It was the 1st match-up between JUSL Whites and the JTLG Blues. The game started at past 7am and the sun was already up and shining. Everyone was so tense at the bench of the JTLG. It would be their first game and they were up against last season’s finalist.

The early part of the game was very close where no team led by more than 3 points. The score was 9 – 8 in favor of JUSL with time remaining at 8min & 5sec (8:5) in the 1st half. Suddenly, the JUSL unleashed a flurry of shots that hit their targets while JTLG failed to convert in most of their tries.

Bayona carried the cudgels for the JUSL and Hermosura held his own at JTLG side, scoring 16 and 11 big points, respectively, in the 1st half alone. Both players converted their 3-point attempts with Bayona hitting twice against the lonesome of Hermosura. The 1st half ended with the score of 27 – 19, with JUSL enjoying a precarious 8-point lead.

With JUSL finding their range, the Whites ran away with the baskets in the 1st 3:30 of the 2nd half, scoring 8 points against 2 of JTLG, 35 – 21 was the score. Almost all the players fielded in by JUSL displayed good ball handling and quickness. Bayona did not have to score more than 2 points in that period but successfully controlled the tempo of the game where it was clear already that JUSL would win it at the turn of last 4 minutes. Hermosura could not get the much needed lift from his teammates in the closing minutes and so they had given up their 1st game of the season with the score of 58 – 37, JUSL winning by a big margin.

The score:
JUSL (58) – Bayona (18), Boadilla (16), Jumao-as (6), Ngitnit (4), Sulit (4), Gozum (4), Lotero (2), Fernandez (2), Abad (2)

JTLG (37) – Hermosura (15), Enriquez (8), Ancheta (6), Lagro (4), Seno (2), Rodriguez (2)

Best Player: Bayona (JUSL)

Best Crowd Support/Morale-booster: JUSL sympathizers

Heroes of the Game: Referees