Team Delta nails 8th win, firms up hold of lead in Cekalco basketball

TEAM Delta strengthened its hold of the lead after beating Foxtrot, 92-85, Saturday night for its 8th win in nine games and maintained its hold of the lead in the second round of the Center Katipunan A. Lopez Christian Organization (CEKALCO)-2013 2nd Season basketball tournament at the A. Lopez open court.

Delta trailed, 15-25 in the first quarter but rallied back in the 2nd canto to grab the lead at halftime, 45-36, behind pointguard Julius Gutierez and Arthur Acosta then maintained its single-digit advantage the rest of the way to seal the seven-point victory.

Julius Gutierez and Juniel Villarosa scattered a game-high 28 and 24 points, respectively to power Delta with huge back-up from Arthur Acosta who had 22 markers. Moses Craso and Kikoy Tabasa paced Foxtrot with 28 and 14 points, respectively.

In the other game, Team Golf overwhelmed Bravo, 103-94, for its 6th win in nine games, while the latter went down to 2-7 card.

Both protagonists jumped off to a hot start resulting in a 26-all deadlock in the opening period, but Golf went strong in the 2nd stanza with a, 25-16 run for a 9-point lead, 51-42, at the half. Golf then maintained its single-digit lead in the final half to win and stay in 2nd place in the rankings behind league-leader Delta.

Kit Arellano and Gino Almencion led Golf with 29 and 24 points, respectively, while Francis Philip Nacar and Tata Maspiñas paced the losing Bravo (2-7) with 34 and 27 points, respectively.

BOX SCORES

DELTA (92)- Gutierez 28, Villarosa 24, Acosta 22, Estrada 5, Gonzaga 5, Sinag 4, Dumduma 2, Genon 2.

FOXTROT (85)- Craso 28, Tabasa 14, Elmido 8, Zafra 8, Lazaga 7, Yee 6, Sumalinog 6, Villamor 4, Gutang 2, Rosales 2. /Correspondent Dale G. Rosal