Team Bumblebees won their debut game at the APCRAA Alumni Basketball Tournament (AABT) 2016 season against defending champions Team Warriors, 78-65 on Saturday, August 20 at the APC Gymnasium.
The Warriors is now at unfamiliar territory, losing their first two assignments and now lodged at the bottom of the team standings.
Norman Ringor of Team Bumblebees dominated the game with a double-double performance, scoring 30 points, grabbing 14 rebounds with 4 assists and 5 steals. Two more Bumblebees, Dexter de Guzman and Arie Altre, scored in double digits, with 10 points each.
Team Warriors was led by Mark Samonte with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists. The Gratil Brothers, Archie and Edwin, also contributed to the team’s scoring, finishing with 15 and 12 points respectively. Allen Gopico, who played for Team Legacy last year, made an impact in his debut game with the Warriors, leading the team in rebounds, with 13 boards. Guess dela Cuesta, Daryl Amparo and George Nartia were not able to play for the team.
Both teams started slow, as Ringor scored the only basket of the ballgame until the 6th minute mark of the first quarter. The Warriors played the first quarter with only five players, as the rest of their teammates began to arrive midway into the second quarter. The Warriors kept the game close, preventing the Bumblebees from leading the game for more than 7 points by the end of the third quarter.
The Bumblebees were able to pull away as turnovers and missed shots haunted the Warriors until the end of the game.
Team Bumblebees will return to action on August 27 against the ASPAC Boys, while Team Warriors will meet team OGs on September 3.
Boxscores (click here for full stats):
Bumblebees (78): Ringor 30, De Guzman 10, Altre 10, Belandro 7, Prion 6, Estabillo 6, Villas 4, Pring 3, Grepo 2 Estoesta 0
Warriors (65): Samonte 16, Gratil A. 15, Gratil E. 12, Villegas 11, Gopico 6, Perez 5, Jabile 0, Abalon 0
Quarterscores: 11-12, 36-34, 60-53, 78-65