Tribu Sugbu finally wins at home

Hosting its third home game, the Arthro-Skygo Tribu Sugbu found its mark by scoring an 89-76 victory over the visiting Cellular Pawnshop-Bulacan in the National Basketball Conference (NBC) National Cup at the Minglanilla Sports Complex.

In improving its win-loss record to 2-3, Tribu Sugbu, which is 1-2 at home, will face another tough challenge tonight against the star-studded Osmeña-Cebu, owned by Cebuano former senator John H. Osmeña at the Cebu Coliseum where Tribu Sugbu won all 14 games during its championship season in 2004.

Gametime is 7 pm.

Tribu Sugbu of coach Al Solis went off to a horrendous 13-0 start and proceeded to dominate the game all the way. It was only the first home victory by Tribu Sugbu co-owned by Jerry Guardo and appliance magnate Lito "Sirlitz" Gillamac.

Bulacan playing coach Nelson Sergio had seen enough on Tribu's early uprising and had to press the timeout buzzer to stop the bleeding. It was answered by Ryan Ico, who scored a three-point play basket for the visitors, 3-13 at the 6:16 mark of the first period and that time Joseph Ronald Quiñahan had already committed three blockshots.

Ico, the main offensive weapon for Bulacan, finished with 17 points while teammates Bernard Go made 14 points and Richard Tiongson had 10 points for the 0-4 Bulakeños of team owner Paolo Ybañez.

Leading at the half with a 50-31 spread, Tribu Sugbu relaxed a little defensively in the third period, allowing Bulacan to spurt a 12-4 run to come within a striking distance, 52-62, with still over one more period to work on.

However, Tribu Sugbu picked up where it left off and blew hot again in the entire fourth period to restore the lead to as high as 24 points, 85-61, down to the final 4:23 of the ballgame.

Again, Bulacan took its last ditch rally outscoring Tribu Sugbu, 15-2, mostly garbage shots with the latter already assured of winning via a 13-point margin, 89-76.

"Kulang lang ang Bulacan ug experienced players pero lisod to kumpyansa-an," Solis said whose wards were having a well-balanced offensive led by 2005 CSAFI MVP Mark Ababon, the hometown hero of Minglanilla, who topscored with 12 points.

Also adding 11 points each were Quiñahan and Doroteo Almacin, who will be out of commission tonight due to a minor sprain on the left ankle he incurred at 6:23 of the third period the other night.

Solis also said "I think nakatabang namo ang daug sa Bulacan in terms of team standing pero dili na puede maoy kuha-an og basis sa among strength. I can only determine it if we win against Osmeña."

He said that Osmeña is so strong for Tribu Sugbu to deal with being the Espiritu Cup champion. It is mentored by Bing Victoria, younger brother of PBA's Boybits Victoria.

The scores

Tribu Sugbu (89) - Ababon 12, Quiñahan 11, almacin 11, Gadiane 9, Ceniza 8, Mercado 6, Co 6, Sevilla 6, Berame 5, Caparros 5, Ramoneda 4, De Guzman 4, Bucao 4, Santos 2

Bulacan (76) - Ico 17, Go 14, Tiongson 10, Aclon 8, Sergio 6, Delarea 5, Turato 4, Aquino 3, Taligatos 2, Giron 2, Salud 2

Quarter scores: 25-14; 50-31; 74-55; 89-76