Team OGs defeated last year’s champions Team ASPAC in their debut game in the 2018 season of the APCRAA Basketball Tournament (ABT), 81-80, on Saturday, July 7 at the Asia Pacific College Gymnasium.
Mhar Paraiso of Team OGs got his first double-double of the season with 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. New recruit Herbert Timbre had a strong debut, scoring 26 points, with 7 out 17 markers in the three-point arc. Team ASPAC had two players who had a double digit points output: Kevin Vasquez (22 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals) and reigning Most Valuable Player Mark Pagaduan (22 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists).
The two finalists in last season’s championship match had a very close game. ASPAC led most of the game and was able to secure a 7-point lead in the fourth quarter but the lead was virtually erased by Team OGs thanks to their 11-2 run, gaining a two-point lead, 77-75 with 1:22 left in the game. ASPAC had a chance to regain the lead but turnovers and missed shots cost them the game, sealing the win for team OGs.
Both teams will be back in action on July 14 as Team ASPAC squares of with Team Alpha at 6:30pm while Team OGs will meet Team Titans at 8:00pm.
THE SCORES (FIBA LiveStats):
ASPAC (80): Vasquez 22, Pagaduan 22, Aboboto 9, Gamboa 6, Magbitang 5, Chandnani 5, Conta 4, Pe Benito 4, Gonzales 2, Ilustre 1, Agdamag 0
OGs (81): Timbre 26, Paraiso 20, Go 10, Redelick 9, Nones 4, Agito 3, Esguerra 2, Dayo 0, Rivera 0, Timtiman 0, Artymiak 0, Aotay 2, Mejia 5, Datukon 0
QUARTERSCORES: 21-21, 39-36, 62-62, 80-81