Goldstar powers way to 86-69 win over TRMH-CMO
By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO
Goldstar Hardware banked on its tremendous advantage in size and experience to deal the San Beda-powered The Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO an 86-69 loss in the 78th Araw ng Davao Basketball Tournament at the Almendras Gym on Tuesday night.
Ex-PBA standouts Pong Escobal and Leo Najorda combined with burly import Charles Mammie to hand the Hoteliers their first loss in two outings. Both teams now tote a 1-1 win-loss record although the points difference earned from Goldstar’s 17-point win could play crucial weight in case of any ensuing complications in this short four-team tournament sponsored by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte.
The two teams battled on equal footing in the first quarter which ended 23-27. In the second quarter, the bigger and heftier Hardwaremen, leaning on their vast experience in commercial league play, began to impose their will on the youth-laden TRMH-CMO side.
Charles Mammie, the University of the East Warrior who surprised local fans with his hulking size that is almost doubled to the first time he was here two years ago, banged his way inside for 7 of his 11 markers in the second period.
The half ended 47-26 in favor of team owner Winston Ho’s gold-jerseyed men.
TRMH-CMO tried to stay in the fight with its swarming defense but the slippery troika of Leomer Losentes, Alvin Pasaol and Cañete broke loose in transition. It was clear the size disparity coupled with experience was just too much for the Red Lions of TRMH-CMO to overcome.
Escobal and Losentes fired 13 points apiece while three others scored in double figures with Cañete adding 12, Mammie 11 and Najorda 10.
Van Adam Abatayo paced TRMH-CMO with 14 while Antonio Bonsubre Jr. had 13.
In the first game, Montaña Pawnshop scored its second win over RM Zamboanga for a perfect 2-0 record.
