CEBU, Philippines - Team White defeated the Green squad, 83-73, to grab the solo lead in the 3rd Maj. Alfonso Abbariao Cup-Biggest Loser 2012 Inter-Color basketball tournament at the Basak-San Nicolas gym.
Boodie Monteño cashed in 16 points, while Andrew Yu, Jeneson Sabanal and Kenneth Maningo connived for 36 points as White zoomed atop the leaderboard with a 5-1 win-loss record.
Vaunted streak-shooter Jingjing Rama churned out 27 points, while Noel Medalle add 22 markers but their one-two combination wasn't solid enough as Green suffered its second setback in six starts.
From a 22-all deadlock after the first 10 minutes of play, the White went on a hot streak to take full control of the match. Monteño unloaded 12 straight points in the second quarter to put White on top by six at halftime, 45-39.
White built its largest lead at 17 points, 68-51, in the third canto. Behind the hot hands of Rama and Medalle, Green went on a scoring frenzy in the final stretch but time was not on its side.
In the other game, Blue stunned Red, 64-51, to snap out of its five-game losing jinx.
District Collector Ronnie Silvestre netted 16 points in Blue's first win. It was Raymund Delig, however, who led Blue with 22 points followed by Mark Gornez with 18.
The scores
First game
White (83) - Monteño 16, Yu 14, Sabanal 12, Maningo 10, Rabago 8, Dela Cruz 5, Viodor 5, Paghasian 5, Nadal 4, Cañete 4
Green (73) - Rama 27, Medalle 22, Herbito 8, Javellana 8, Trinidad 4, Banuag 2, Datu 2
Second game
Blue (64) - Delig 22, Gornez 18, Silvestre 16, Canonayan 4, Librando 2, Vandame 2
Red (51)- Dejaresco 14, Mabalo 12, Apuya 7, Quiño 6, Velarde 5, Ali 5, Bailio 2 (FREEMAN)