NUEVA Ecija Capitals did it again.

The Capitals scored the game’s first 15 points and kept the CV Siniloan Daruma Dragons at bay the rest of the way enroute to a convincing 100-85 win in the Pilipinas Super League (PSL) President’s Cup at the Paco Arena in Manila.

Veterans Jay Collado, Michael Mabulac and Emman Calo led another balanced scoring attack for the Capitals of businessman-sportsman Bong Cuevas and coach Jerson Cabiltes to extend their unbeaten record with their sixth win in as many matches.

Collado scattered 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 13 minutes of action for the Capitals, who are looking to bring their winning tradition in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) to the PSL.

Mabulac added 13 points, and five rebounds while Calo contributed 12 points for Nueva Ecija, which established its biggest lead in the game of 22 points, 45-23, with 4:40 remaining in the second quater.

The Capitals never looked back from there.

The closest the Daruma Dragons could get from there was seven points, 62-69, with 2:04 left in the third peeriod.

Nueva Ecija led, 77-66, after three quarters.

.A fiery 13-2 run by the Capitals at the start of the fourth quarter pushed the lead back to 22 points, 90-68.

“I’m really trying to give everyone enough playing time to get themselves going. We want to keep everyone fresh for the daily grind. Yun second group namin, medyo kulang yun ball movement. tapos yung third group kulang sa transition defense. That’s what we emphasized at halftime,” said Cabiltes.

“Yun naman ang goal natin . We want to have a cohesive unit going against tougher opponents in our next games. Ang sabi ko nga sa kanila, kahit walang mag MVP or Mythical Five sa team, ayos lang as long as we win the championship.”

Collado understands the message from the coach.

“Yun nga ang laging sinasabi sa akin ni coach. Isa ako sa mga beterano kaya kailangan i-lead ko yun team, lalo na maraming bata kami na kinuha. So kailangan maging example ako sa ensayo sa team.” said Collado.

“Yun mga bata namin, sobrang nakakatulong sa amin. Sa practice, takbuhan agad sila at hindi petiks kaya kailangan naming mga beterano na sabayan kaya pati kami yun kondisyon namin umaangat pa.”

The Capitals, also recognized as the Rice Vanguards in the MPBL, also got 10 points each from Ralph Robin and Robby Celiz.

Chris Bitoon and Harvey Pagsanjan contributed eight and seven points, respectively. Billy Ray Robles added five points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Jonathan Uyloan chipped in five points.

Francis Camacho and Justine Alano led CV Siniloan in their losing effort.

Camacho finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Alano had 19 points and nine rebounds, and Shawn Umali contributed 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The scores:

Nueva Ecija Capitals (100) — Collado 13, Mabulac 13, Calo 12, Robin 10, Celiz 10, Bitoon 8, Pagsanjan 7, Robles 6, Uyloan 5, Cosejo 4, Sumang 4, Maguliano 3, Doromal 2, Balucanag 2, Gurtiza 1
CV Siniloan (85) — Camacho 20, Alano 19, Umali 16, Acibar 9, Caballero 5, Guevara 5, Montilla 4, Matias 3, Medina 2, Biteng 2, Celso 0, Kapunan 0.
Quarterscores: 32-18, 55-38, 77-66, 100-85.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya