By: Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The questions of the crowd on how ODM Sportswear’s lineup would click were immediately dismissed as they played with solid familiarity and chemistry inside, trouncing the TEJ Builders squad, 89-78, in the Mayor Jerry P. Treñas Dinagyang Basketball Cup.
ODM opened the game blitzing with an 8-0 run courtesy of back-to-back threes from versatile big man Istoy Lencioco and a layup from Edward Dixon, who shares his talents with the College of St. Benilde Blazers in the NCAA in Manila.
The more the ODM squad scored, the more their defense got better as their pressure defense earned them a couple of steals for easy layups.
Leading the half 46-32, ODM’s momentum was carried down to the last period as they forced their way inside the paint after changing gears on the offensive end.
The high-low play for Jesse Sullano proved to be too much for the TEJ interior as his size and shiftiness enabled him to operate down-low.
Guards’ Miguel Sasuman and Matthew Montalvo also torched TEJ as they controlled the tempo and the pace of the game.
TEJ looked to make a run with 6 minutes left in the fourth but the firepower and the interior dominance of ODM prevailed and was consistent all game.
