Insurers firm up hold of lead in Power 40 hoop

THE Insurers strengthened their hold of the lead after trouncing Allyn & Sons, 110-105, Tuesday night to improve its record to 4-0 in the Power Forty-2011 Christmas basketball tournament at the Emilio Jaca Memorial gym.

Allyn & Sons led, 28-18, in the opening period but the Insurers responded with a blistering 34-23 run in the 2nd to grab a, 52-51 lead at the half then widened its advantage to, 85-76, entering the final quarter.

July Capala paced the Insurers with a tournament-record 41 points while Alex Mercado and skipper Flor Yosores added 17 and 16 points, respectively.

Joel Cañete and Gidgeon Bughao led Allyn & Sons (1-3) with 36 and 33 points, respectively.

Earlier, Park N’ Go (2-2) nipped Water Market (2-2), 97-95 on Michael Arias’ buzzer-beating lay-up.

Arias powered Park N’ Go with 38 points while Edwin Dejacto paced Water Market with 24 markers.

In the other game, Van System routed FC Fortune (1-3), 112-74 with Jun Sumargo and Melvin Caumeran scoring 31 and 24 points, respectively. Dodong Piezas and Teody Ebrado paced FC Fortune with 25 and 22 points, respectively.

BOX SCORES

PARK N’ GO (97)- Arias 38, Pestaño 17, Albaño 14, R. Rama 12, Echavez 8, Abasolo 6, Filosopo 2.

W. MARKET (95)- Dejacto 24, Ungria 17, Mabalcon 12, Eleguin 12, Nacional 10, Dela Rama 9, Dumale 3, Flordeliza 2, Cr. Labajo 2, Ca. Labajo 2, Dacalos 2.

2nd game

VAN SYSTEM (112)- Sumargo 31, Caumeran 24, Cabaluna 17, Nacario15, Genzon 12, Cabatas 9, Gabuya 4.

FC FORTUNE (74)- Piezas 25, Ebrado 22, Fuentes 8, Kalinga 6, Mapait 4, Navares 4, Mosqueda 3, Lim 2.

3rd game

INSURERS (110)- Capala 41, Mercado 17, F. Yosores 16, Tantay 15, Cabrera 11, Yu 6, S. Yosores 4.

ALLYN & SONS (105)- Cañete 36, Bughao 33, Moneva 18, Sandal 12, Tabar 4, Cañedo 2.  Correspondent Dale Rosal