Laguna leans on Ekwe feat; Ilocos spoils Pacman debut

General Santos City – The Trace Laguna Stallions and Ilocos Sur Bravehearts beat their respective foes in contrasting fashions to win the opening games of the Gensan leg of the Smart-Liga Pilipinas Conference II here in the Lagao Gymnasium.

Playing his first game with the Stallions, lottery pick Nigerian Sam Ekwe immediately registered the first double-double performance in the community-based league with 12 points and 17 rebounds to lead Laguna to a convincing 84-73 victory over the Edding Zanorte Babami in Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Ekwe, the former two-time MVP of the NCAA, teamed up with former FEU star Arvie Mangahas in a first quarter blitz as Laguna led Zanorte or formerly the Zamboanga Amores from start to finish.

 The Stallions led by as many as 11 points early in the second period as they dominated the boards 47-33. Zanorte tried to keep it close through the efforts of former RP pool candidate Jonathan Pareno and point guard Cris Concepcion as Laguna led 40-30 at the turn.

In the main game, the Ilocos Sur spoiled the basketball debut of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as the Bravehearts defeated the MP Gensan Warriors, 63-59, to disappoint a big hometown crowd.

Pacquiao, who started the game for the host team which he himself owns, scored his only basket with a fastbreak layup at the 6:52 mark of the first to give Gensan their first lead at 4-3.Dodong Tadena and Dondon Mendoza led the Warriors to a 27-22 halftime lead behind its tough pressure defense.