UNIQUE Trade posted its seventh victory in nine games after tripping RCAF/VHL, 93-90, last Monday night in the 2011 Punta Princesa Basketball Club (PPBC), 2nd Conference basketball tournament at the Vicente Sotto Memorial gym in barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.
RCAF/VHL led in the first two quarters and was up by nine points at the half, 52-43 with former UC Webmaster Rocky Bacalso and Lennon Rafols leading the charge.
But the Traders outscored their opponents in the third quarter, 22-13 to tie the score at 65-all heading to the final canto.
The fourth period featured several deadlocks and lead changes until Fritz Sullano nailed two successive baskets from beyond the arc inside 32 seconds for the three-point victory.
Louie Navarro and Mario Suarez powered Unique Trade with 22 points apiece while Fritz Sullano backed them up with 19 markers. Rocky Bacalso topped the losing side with 17 points as RCA/VHL suffered its 4th loss in 10 games.
Earlier, Reunited skippered by former USC Warrior Ruel Monterroyo drubbed Wilkris of Marlou Monreal, 112-96, for its 5th win in 10 matches. Wilkris dropped to 3-7 win-loss card.
Reunited trailed Wilkris, 26-27 in the first period but worked on solid defense by Edgar Camota and Richie Tecson to outscore Wilkris, 30-20 in the second for a nine-point lead, 56-47 at the half.
Monterroyo carried the play in the 3rd and 4th to tear the game apart.
Rey Jumamil and Keith Dinoy spearheaded Reunited with 26 and 24 points, respectively, while Ohing Ortiz and Richie Tecson combined for 33 points. Jun Sumargo and Boboy Rosito paced Wilkris with 27 and 24 points, respectively.
BOX SCORES
REUNITED (112)- Jumamil 26, Dinoy 24, Ortiz 23, Tecson 14, Monterroyo 10, Camota 10, Pasana 2, Villaber 2.
WILKRIS (96)- Sumargo 27, Rosito 24, Pahamutang 19, Monreal 14, Vilbar 6, Adlawan 6.
2nd game
UNIQUE (93)- Lo. Navarro 22, Suarez 22, Sullano 19, Lauranilla 8, Hernandez 8, Tiu 6, Ciabo 3, Zuñiga 3, J. Navarro 2.
RCAF (90)- Bacalso 17, Baclay 16, Tabasa 15, Garcia 9, Mancao 8, Faunillan 4, Libre 2, Amarado 2, Sarsaba 1. Correspondent Dale Rosal