Hoop It Up on a roll in MLSDF cagefest

Hoop It Up stormed to its third straight victory in as many starts after gunning down the Salazar College of Science and Institute of Technology (SCSIT) Baby Skyblazers, 73-59, in the MLSDF-backed 5th ML Kwarta Padala Cup Under-21 basketball tournament at the Colsolacion Sports Complex.

Hoop It Up trailed by three after the first 10 minutes of play, 12-15, but turned red-hot in the second canto where it launched a sizzling 24-10 rally to grab the lead at halftime, 36-25, for good.

Hoop It Up of coach Marvin Felicis was never threatened from that point on, sealing the game with a 13-9 bang for the 14-point romp.

With the win, Hoop It Up grabs the solo lead with a clean 3-0 slate, while SCSIT slipped to 1-2.

In the other game, the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Baby Jaguars spewed fire in the first three quarters and then fended off a spirited endgame resistance by the Athletes for Christ in Excellent Service (ACES) to hack out a convincing 79-62 victory.

After taking a 42-31 lead at the intermission, USJ-R further pounced on the ACES, 23-7, to mount an imposing 18-point bulge, 65-47, entering the final 10-minute mark of the contest.

The ACES woke up from deep slumber and countered with a game-closing 24-14 rally but time was not on its side.

USJ-R now holds an improved 2-1 win-loss record, while the ACES fell to 1-2.

The scores

First game

Hoop It Up (73) - Yncierto 19, Resalla 16, R. Cañete 13, Caballero 9, Escober 5, Cañete 4, Arias 4, Anagap 3

SCSIT (59) - Somano 19, Jabadan 16, Tampos 9, Villaver 7, Leon 3, Tajanlangit 2, Dacoron 1, Deniega 1, Baller 1

Second game

USJ-R (79) - Lapiz 20, Morales 11, Imat 9, Diaz 7, Bebira 5, Macasero 5, Cadez 4,Ibonia 4, Enriquez 4, Abing 3, Yballe 2, Rama 2

ACES (62) - Cantonao 16, Filoteo 11, Quitana 10, Delantar 5, Ngojo 4, Cardina 4, Villanil 4, Ty 3, Bartugo 3, Subingsubi 3