2013 Perfetto Basketball First Conference starts

Defending Reinforced Division ultimate champion Pepsi opened defense of its title with a 77-70 victory over Combibo Catering in one of three games that took the wraps off the 2013 Perfetto Basketball Tournament First Conference organized by Industrial Sports Association (ISA) at the Industrial City Dawa Office (ICDO) court on the outskirts of Jeddah.
Pepsi got the better of Combibo in the game featuring impressive lineups for both teams. Gino Cilot was named Best Player of the game with 27 big points.
A simple opening ceremony preceded the games with ISA officials led by president Eric Abrantes and vice president Ahmad Erandio in attendance. Goody Viagedor emceed the event and did the play-by-play account of the games. Also present were ISA adviser and friend of the Filipino community Mohamed Bayoumi and ISA supporter Raul Negradas of Jotun Paints.
In the first two quarters, Pepsi emphatically forced turnovers from its opposing team with a trapping defense. With Cilot, Fuentes and Destresa manning the backcourt Pepsi played a fastbreaking game while Nemitz Dangao exploited mismatches to pile up points in the first two quarters but in the last three minutes of the third, Combibo’s Mark Basa exploded with 18 points along with Mark Lagria who had 14 points to make the game interesting. The the third quarter ended 62-57 to Pepsi.
In the final period, Fuentes and Destresa continued to create good plays for their teammates especially for Cilot and Dangao, who both showed their dribbling skills and quickness to elude defenders and score high percentage shots. These four players combined for 68 points for Pepsi.
The Dasmarinas Connection of Morada and Gervacio lifted PSF past rival UCIC 69-64 in a come-from-behind victory.
UCIC was in control for all of the first half and reached the turn ahead by 10 points 35-25.
But Morada and Gervacio made an adjustment on defense especially in the painted area.
PSF wrested the lead 50-46 to end the third period but UCIC tightened up its defense in the early going of the final period to stay in the game.
Cudal scored six unanswered points while Cabrera hit back-to-back threes to put UCIC back in the lead with less than three minutes remaining in the game.
But then Bona and Happy combined their rebounding skills and in tandem with Morada and Gervacio who took PSF to victory.
Caravan Advertising joined opening day winners by beating Napico 92-80.
Caravan’s Viscayno claimed Best Player honors with 22 points, spiking his game with tremendous defense and rebounding.
The scores:
Pepsi (77) Jino 27, Detresa 15, Fuentes 13, Dangao 12, Payawan 8, Mateo 2
Combibo (70) Basa 23, Lagria 14, Bodiongan 9, Nader 6, Genil 6, Liam 4, Pasco 3, Dela Cruz 3, Danao 2
PSF (69) Morada 20, Bona 19, Gervacio 19, Saludes 5, Ribano 4