By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Team Uniwheels proved they were the better and hungrier team after completing the tournament sweep against the DPWH Iloilo-Executives, 86-78, during Game 2 of the Mayor Jerry P. Treñas New Normal basketball open category championship.
Both teams started with different starting fives from their usual lineup where Uniwheels chose to start young stalwart Raffy Arguelles while the Executives inserted veterans Epoy Bellones and Jester Famating.
Both changes sparked each team as Arguelles started hot with his efficient perimeter shooting while Famating and Bellones providing the extra paint cushion they needed.
However, the Executives lost momentum when Bellones recorded two quick fouls which forced head coach Matthew Montalvo to bring him out of the game.
With DPWH struggling to buy a basket, Uniwheels started to bank on the prowess of Arguelles and was just unconscious from the field, sinking his perimeter shots that helped them establish an early 24-16 first quarter lead.
Coach Pisuena’s new-look rotation provided more punch in the game as Ronilo Parohinog and Erjohn Hermogino, two of his relied members during Game 1, were inserted in the second quarter and immediately played their respective roles.
Things got worse for DPWH in the third quarter as the lead ballooned to double-digits after Uniwheels’ three-pointers started to connect.
The lead extended to as much as 19 in the final canto but DPWH fought back and even cut the lead to just nine, thanks to Peter Traviña’s three straight treys and John Samones’ deuce.
As DPWH was about to make a run in the last two minutes, Uniwheels’ timely baskets put them ahead that sealed the deal for the champions.
