REIGNING champion Team Alam Na and last conference's finalist Romul'z Power made an impressive debut in the 2018 Green CdeO Eagles Club Second President's Cup basketball tournament which opened here on Thursday night, August 23, at the SPC covered court.
Janjan Babiera capped the night with 28 points to lead Team Alam Na of team-playing managers Anjun Gomez and Yogi Hembrador to a crushing 73-52 win over Team Baba.
"Sinaw brasohan sab among mga batos sa ilalom maong makadiskarte gyod si Kuya JanBab's sa opensa," said the team's second best scorer Marvin Neri (19 points), citing the huge troika of Loloy Gelogo, Sol 'Bato' Mercado and Charlie Butron.
Romul'z Power, which lost the championship to Team Alam Na last conference due to forfeiture, hammered out a 96-83 victory over Team Daabay.
Stev Panaz, the smallest guy on the floor, inspired his teammates to play better when he rattled off 10 fastbreak points right in the first quarter as Romul'z raced to a 7-point edge, 27-20.
From there, Romul'z Power never let-up with Daryll 'Skipping Rope' Timkang knocking in 30 points and Patrick Go, Waway Arocha and ageless center Joseph 'Insik' Villareal combining for 33 more to dominate Daabay's youthful wards the rest of the way.
"Ang mga baseball pass ni Kuya Romulo (Ulysses) ubay-ubay sab wala gyod na check, unya kulang sa pasa among team pabor unta kay daghan among mga batan-on," said veteran guard Steve Asil, who is hoping to improve the chemistry among Shian Galanida, Tarotoy Remoto, Wyndel Relevo and Arvin Monterona in their next outings.
Team Saraus, meanwhile, rallied from twin-digit deficit to defeat Dad'z Uy, 62-53.
This, as Doc Neri found a cohesive play among the foursome of Jojo Lim, Boning Biongcog, Jay Buot and Raymond Bongon to turn down the challenge of the El Kapitan Jongey Rañoja-skippered Eagles Aspirants, 74-68 in the curtain-raiser.
"Actually, kusog kaayo ang mga aspirants. Ulahi lang gyod nangabot ilang mga saligando," said table barker Roberto 'Dongcabs' Caballero.
The scores:
Romul'z Power 96—Timkang 30, Go 14, Salgados 12, Waway 10, Villareal 9, Romulo 6, Sajulga 2.
Daabay 'Joko' 83—Relevo 27, Remoto 18, Galanida 9, Gustilo 9, Asil 6, Monterona 4, Daabay 2.
Second game
Saraus Five 62—Saraus 18, Luna 16, Capul 10, Quieta 8, White 5, Mariñas 5.
Dadz Uy 53—Noble 15, Pablero 14, Pims 10, Bacarisas 4, Navarra 0, Fabre 0.
Third game
Alam Na 73—Babiera 28, Neri M. 19, Macapayag 6, Mabalot 4, Mercado 4, Neri 4, Gomez 2, Butron 2, Gelogo 0, Yogi 0.
Bab'z Popovich 52—Miralles 14, Daigdigan 12, Del Castillo 8, Nambatac 6, Sala 4, Capul 4, Daitol 2, Baba 2, Pagulong 0, Manansala 0.
