THE undersized Baba 2AB-AUB Team has surprisingly taken the solo lead in the ongoing Green CdeO Eagles Club (GCEC) Inter-Color Basketball Tournament dubbed as President’s Cup 2022 at Barangay 24 covered courts in Cagayan de Oro City.
Relying on their run-and-gun tactics, the 2AB-AUB hoopsters overpowered the youth-laden AGP-Wheeltek, 84-71 en route to their third-straight triumph.
The small guards tandem of Shian ‘Westbrok’ Galanida and Stev Panaz scored 12 and 10 points each in the first quarter as the wards of team managers Arnel Baba and Errol Gabe immediately raced to a 15-point lead at 30-15 that set the tone for 2AB-AUB’s trouble-free finish.
Galanida poured 19 more markers in the final half to keep the Wendel Relevo and Loloy Casiño-led AGP at bay, despite the late arrival of its explosive forward Bonbon Macaliag.
Magdalino Sicad and Patrick Go added nine points each for 2AB-AUB's 3-0 start that got a lot of rebounding help from Waway Arocha, Ariel Sicad, and Jay Buot.
In the opener of the triple-header matches, the heftier Bellevue drew 20, 17, and 15 points each from Jan Babiera, Raymond Bongon, and Ed Gustilo to beat Team Father, 88-72.
This, as playmaker Ayok Pablero erupted for 30 points to complement the defense of Rodelio Gelogo and Tata Sala to overwhelm Team Suyao fronted by Nanding Abapo, Samboy Uy, and Gitagum Mayor Emmanuel Mugot.
