By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Team Uniwheels handed the Iloilo Executives a hard beating, 83-64, during Game 1 of the 2022 Mayor Jerry P. Treñas New Normal basketball championship.
Aside from the momentum-boosting Game 1 win, team Uniwheels also gave the Executives their first-ever loss in the prestigious basketball tournament who improved to an impressive 6-0 win-loss record including their dominating semifinals win against the TEJ Builders.
It was the Executives who took control of the first quarter and led 16-12 after banking on their defensive intensity and collective effort in the shaded lane against the long and athletic frontcourt of team Uniwheels.
However, Uniwheels’ three-point shooting and full-court defensive pressure clicked immediately in the second quarter and helped them regain the lead at the end of the first half, 40-35.
Just when the Executives started to crawl their way back and cut the deficit to just two, 43-41, team Uniwheels struck back and fired two-straight three-pointers courtesy of Estoy Lencioco and another long-bomb from Jesan Dela Cruz.
Uniwheels’ lead then ballooned to 68-49 at the end of the third quarter which made it hard for the Executives to come back and regain momentum as they also struggled to make baskets.
It was all Uniwheels in the final canto as key substitutes Erjohn Hermogino and Raffy Arguelles showed up when head coach Jay Pisuena needed them the most and provided the hustle and scoring spark from their deep bench rotation.
Ronilo Parohinog clinched the Tanduay best player of the game award after dropping 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists against the veteran-filled big men lineup of the Executives led by Epoy Bellones, Zael Porral, and Jhepoy Balleza.
The Iloilo Executives will look to bounce back and equalize the series at one game apiece as they collide in Game 2 of the finals today at 7 PM at the Western Institute of Technology (WIT)-RTS Campus Gym.
