Phoenix, Picpa Snipers nip rivals in Picpa basketball

TEAM Phoenix crushed Hoopers, 65-55, to improve its win-loss record to 5-3, while the Arjam Bonsucan-led PICPA Snipers beat PICPA Bulls, 61-55, for a 6-3 card in the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA)-2013 basketball tournament.

The Snipers trailed the Bulls, 10-16 in the first quarter but outscored the latter in the second, 22-16 to tie the count at 32-all at the half.

In the 3rd period, the Snipers outgunned the Bulls, 17-13 to bring a, 49-45 advantage to the final quarter where they padded their lead to six at the final buzzer.

Jacon Bonsucan and Bendict Bandala led PICPA Snipers with 15 and 12 points, respectively while Edlin Endrina paced the Bulls (2-6) with a game-high 20 points.

Earlier, the Hoopers led 16-10 in the opening canto but Phoenix outscored the former, 23-15 in the second for a 33-31 lead at the half. The latter then uncorked a blistering 22-8 run in the third to post a 10-point lead which it never relinquished.

Edwin Lusica and Melvin Judaya led Phoenix with 16 and 12, respectively, while Lito Ortiz and Jonar Torres paced Hoopers (4-4) with 15 and 14 markers.

BOX SCORES

PHOENIX (65)- Lusica 16, Judaya 12, Hoylar 11, Padios 10, Cabonelez 9, Estrella 2.

HOOPERS (55)- Ortiz 15, Torres 14, Cadungog 10, Prosia 8, Pascua 6, Prieto 2.

2nd game

SNIPERS (61)- J. Bonsucan 15, Bandala 12, Zabala 11, A. Bonsucan 10, Balucan 4, Cuadra 3, Marco 2, Seno 2, Bauzon 2.

BULLS (55)- Endrina 20, Flores 12, Alejandre 11, Makinano 8, Arquillano 2. /Correspondent Dale Rosal