Arthro/Kontra Arthritis-Skygo scores anew over Aquastars

The Arthro/Kontra Arthritis and Skygo backed Tribu Sugbu came strong in the third period and neutralized the scoring rampage of Carcar's adopted son Chris Carretas to pull off a 78-71 victory over the Talisay City Aquastars in an exhibition game played at the Carcar multi-purpose gym last Wednesday.

Although Tribu Sugbu failed to contain James Laygo, who topscored for the Aquastars with 21 points, he was no longer productive in the fourth period as he was slowed down by the alternating defense of Mark Ababon, Doroteo Almacin, Ritchum Dennison and Jerome Gadiane.

Holding Carretas at bay was so timely he brought damage to Tribu Sugbu in the first period alone where he scored 10 points, two behind the arc but he was held scoreless in the next period and was only allowed to scatter three more points in the entire second half.

Carretas, a journeyman from Cagayan de Oro City, settled for good in Carcar where he married a businesswoman. In fact, the family of his wife sponsored the game with a promise they will bring another game to Carcar soon.

Ababon and Almacin paced Tribu Sugbu with 13 points apiece while Randy Sevilla and Vergel Abelong had 12 and 11 points, respectively. Gadiane, a streak shooter, had only nine points.

It was the second time in three goodwill games that Tribu Sugbu defeated the Aquastars. Last November 5 in Lapulapu City, Tribu Sugbu escaped with an 82-79 victory but on October 28 in Boljoon, the Aquastars won by a mile over Tribu Sugbu, 109-91 without coach Al Solis to call the shots.

Last night, it was coach Eddie Ybañez who did not accompany the team with Leodi Garcia calling the shots for the Aquastars.

Marvin Mercado and Joel Co did not play, forcing coach Solis to field in his UV wards Junjun Lasala and Ritchum Dennison. Three Talisay players are actually playing for Tribu Sugbu in the NBC in Rino Berame, Eduardo Arda and Kim Calo.

The Carcar goodwill match served as tune-up game for both teams as they are seeing action in the ongoing Don Henry Lhuillier Panasia tournament in Talisay along with Garuda-Indonesia and Tagaygay Highlanders.

Tribu Sugbu is also honing up for its quarterfinals game against the Pagadian Explorers on December 6 in the latter's territory in the National Basketball Conference (NBC) 2006 Spring National Cup while the Aquastars are expecting a tougher assignments ahead in the Mindanao Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) with the playoffs coming very soon after MLKP-Jewelers Cebu City's Mindanao sojourn.

The exhibition game was graced by Carcar Mayor Patrick Barcenas.

The scores:

Tribu Sugbu (78) - Ababon 13, Almacin 13, Sevilla 12, Abelong 11, Gadiane 9, De Guzman 7, Dennison 5, Ceniza 4, Lasala 2, Santos 2

Talisay Aquastars (71) - Laygo 21, Carretas 13, Berame 10, Lozano 8, Calo 6, Arda 4, Lumantas 3, Akad 2, Esperat 2, Abatayo 2 Halftime: 39-42