By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Malditos basketball club and team TEJ-RC grabbed crucial wins during the second day of the JB Amateur Basketball League (JB ABL) Season II.
Team Malditos edged the stacked CTG-YANLEX basketball team, 65-63, while the TEJ-RC outlasted team Pepsi, 61-55.
It was a nip-and-tuck affair between Malditos and CTG as both squads were able to answer each other’s scoring runs and made crucial stops down the stretch.
CTG eventually grabbed the momentum in the third quarter when their young guns started clicking on the offensive end led by Clint Mesias who just outran Malditos every time he caught the leather for the fast break opportunity.
However, the veteran smarts of Malditos’ “death duo”, Gerry Abadiano and Jeffrey Espinosa, helped stabilize the situation and led their squad’s recovery from an eight-point deficit.
Abadiano played hero ball for team Malditos after sinking the game-winning one-handed floater with 20 seconds left in the ball game.
CTG had the chance to tie or win the game but Felino “Pusoy” Arenal Jr.’s drive to the basket resulted in a turnover and was stolen by team Malditos.
In the last game of Day II, the TEJ-RC squad used their youth and speed to their advantage as they outplayed the more experienced Pepsi squad, 61-55.
Pepsi thought they would already have the grip on the game as their veteran scorers cashed in some offense but TEJ’s full-court pressure defense made all the difference in the game.
Once coach Rodel Camacho deployed his pressure defense, Pepsi turned the ball over several times, allowing the youngsters to capitalize and take hold of the game.
TEJ’s tremendous offensive rebounding also killed Pepsi during their possessions that allowed for crucial tip-ins and putbacks.
JB ABL will resume games after December 25, Christmas Day, and will aim to entertain the Ilonggo ballers once again this holiday season.
