Team Bumblebees won their third consecutive game at the conclusion of the APCRAA Alumni Basketball Tournament (AABT) men’s division elimination round on Saturday, November 21, at the APC Gymnasium, against the ASPAC Boys, 87-66.
As a result, the Bumblebees clinched the remaining outright semifinals seat and will now wait for the winner of the ASPAC Boys-Engineering All-Stars quarterfinals match on November 28.
Bumblebees’ Norman Ringor, the tournament’s leading MVP candidate, had another double-double performance, finishing the game with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Four other players in their team scored in double digits.
On the other side, Levi Pe Benito led all the ASPAC Boys in scoring with 20 points, plus 7 rebounds. VG Agdamag scored 14 points and led the ASPAC Boys in rebounding with 9 boards.
From tip-off, the Bumblebees did not give ASPAC Boys a chance to gain the lead. Missed shots hurt the ASPAC Boys’ rally, managing to make only 24 out of their 90 shots in the field. The Bumblebees also outrebounded their opponents, grabbing 52 boards against the 43 of the ASPAC Boys.
The shooting woes of the ASPAC Boys continued up to the fourth quarter, and was capped by a 17-0 run by the Bumblebees before the last two minutes of the game.
Meanwhile, Team Warriors won their sixth consecutive game by defeating the Engineering All-Stars by forfeit.
The All-Stars only had four players in the playing venue even after giving them additional 20 minutes to complete their lineup. This will be the fourth game in the tournament that was determined via forfeit.
As a result, stricter measures with the players’ call time will be enforced to prevent any more forfeitures in the playoffs.
The playoff round of the men’s division will begin on November 28.
Boxscores (click here for full details)
Bumblebees (87): Ringor 20, Estabillo 14, Altre 14, Villas 10, Belardo 10, Prion 7, Rubio 4, Estoesta Jk 4, De Guzman 2, Banua 2, Pring 0, Estoesta Jf 0
ASPAC Boys (66): Pebenito 20, Armedilla 17, Agdamag 14, Vasquez 7, Magbitang 5, Dadula 3, Gonzales 0
Quarterscores: 17-4, 41-27, 63-52, 87-66