Toyota Motors shaded DES Strong Motors, 71 – 69 in the opener of the maiden season of the Inter Car Dealers Basketball Cup, Saturday at the Booy covered court.
Trailing behind by 8, 39 – 31, power forward Rodrigo Cubian of Toyota fought like a fearless fighter firing his arsenals from all angles of the court aside from hauling the rebounds with authority in connivance with Junreil Almosunra to even the count at 42 as the buzzer sounded signalling the end of the 3rd period.
DES Strong Motors behind Armel Camantigue, Gerry Calipes, Junryl Fallar, and Ni̱o Salisid stepped on the acceleration gas ahead of their opponents to make a breakthrough, 22 Р13, as the 1st period came to a close.
Cubian in conspiracy with Zion Sormeon, Percy Pacamalan, Ryann Nell Petinio, and Almonsura in the 2nd canto faltered as Niño Salisid, Archie Buagas, Armel Camantigue, and Eugene Lumain were there to repulse the said plot.
Undermanned Nissan Motors behind Jencer Ungab, Benjie Fuentes, JR Bueno demolished Mitsubishi Montero sports, 74 – 6.
Mitsubishi Montero Sports could not get their game going as Bueno and company were at the defensive end which caused the game to be lopsided.
Exchanges of firepower occurred as the game went into the thick of the fight as opposing teams got their games on the go. And with a few ticks to go and the score was tied at 69 all, Cubian drove inside heavy traffic to convert two points to give his team the lead, 71 – 69.. In the return play, DES Strong Motors failed to score as time ran out.
The 1st Inter Car Dealers Basketball Cup is another auspice of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).