Cruz had a tremendous game as Centerpoint downed Tropapips 83-70 as action continued in 2012 Overseas Filipino Basketball League (OFBL) at Time-out Sports Academy on Gulail Street outside of Jeddah.
Cruz scored 29 points and named Best Player of the game.
Minoza deservedly won Best Player honors, scoring 23 points including the critical 5 markers in the last 1:23 as Hidada defeated Delta Water Commander 68-63. Cruz blended well with Dela Cruz as the explosive duo carried Centerpoint past Tropapips.
At the end of the first quarter, only two points separated both teams but at the end of the first half, Centerpoint players took over to take a 42-32 lead against Tropapips.
Mohammed, best player the last time, scored 28 points, Tayam and Defensor each added 12 points as they tried to match up and really pushed the game for Tropapips but still can’t get another win because of the balanced scoring from Centerpoint players especially in the final quarter of the game.
Hidada tasted its first win in OFBL behind the steady shooting by Minoza who totaled 23 points and the inside presence of Pasculado, who added 19 points.
Early on, both teams really pushed hard but the composure of the only one big guy, Pasculado, who really dominated inside, and Minoza’s shooting enabled Hidada to pull through, with Minoza highlighting his five-point burst with a perimeter shot off an Abellana pass and a difficult reverse layup off the rebound.
Meantime, Almarai won its second straight victory of the tournament when they held off G4S 89- 74.
Regondola, a star player for Almarai, failed to deliver his A-game but other players stepped up. McTito helped in rebounding and also scored his first conference high of 17 points to secure Best Player of the game award while Inieto and Dela Paz each scored 10 points. Escala, Balmes and De Guzman combined for 42 points for G4S and started the first quarter run but can’t finish the game with a win.
The scores:
Centerpoint (83) Cruz 29, Dela Cruz 17, Estrada 15, Roy 8, Simbol 5, Oxales 3, Yaron 2, Bernadas 2, Brocoy 2
Tropapips (70) Mohammed 28, Defensor 12, Tayam 12, Dela Cruz 10, Perez 3, Dayrit 3, Gil 2
Almarai (89) Mc Tito 17, Dela Paz 10, Inieto 10, Bermillo 9, Gaciles 8, Regondola 8, Omictin 6, Gallego 5, Caga 5, Guttierez 4, Parabuac 3, Trinidad 2, Valencia 2
G4S (74) Escala 18, Balmes 16, De Guzman 13, Tocama 9, Jamer 7, Gabriell 5, Rabano 3, Maximo 3
— With input from Janus Napuecas Gella
