Four teams got off to an impressive winning start as the Next5Hoops Metro Manila Central Leg qualifiers continued last Saturday.
Gulf Sharks banked on AJ Carandang’s offensive explosion to finish off Priminent Builders, 94-79, in the opener at Makati Coliseum.
Carandang unleashed 39 points and leading the third quarter breakaway that turned a two-point deficit into a 16 point lead before the period ended.
Raven Pitogo chipped in 11 points of the bench and Chuckie Antonio and Paolo Marcelo added 10 apiece for Gulf Sharks, who shot 11-of-34 from deep.
All starters finished in double digits for Priminent Builders with Josiah Fordan leading the way with 24, but their efforts weren’t enough to lift them in their first try.
Fuel Saver, meanwhile, bucked a turnover-prone outing to dominate Manila Amigos, 75-58.
Despite 22 turnovers, Fuel Saver was simply unstoppable leading by as much as 32 points late in the third quarter, thanks to superior rebounding (50-37) and passing (23-13).
Kenneth Valenzuela paced Fuel Saver with 19 points and six boards while Toffer Dela Cruz and Vincent Puno added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
So Kian and Ballerhood had to go through the wringer against separate opponents to rack up their first victories.
Ballerhood withstood Wizards, 69-68, on a game-winner from Roberto Carlos with seven seconds left.
Carlos came up with a crucial steal and finished it up with the winner as Ballerhood averted disaster after leading most of the way.
The opening day hero churned out an impressive line of 28 points and eight rebounds for Ballerhood, which dominated the paint, 46-28.
Wizards had a chance to steal the victory from the jaws of defeat with three ticks left but Bimbo San Gabriel muffed his attempt as the time expired.
Ian Suasba and Mac Tanoy conspired for 41 points for Wizards.
An 8-0 run sealed, meanwhile, sealed So Kian’s 77-69 victory over Eastside at Asia Pacific College, also in Makati.
So Kian held its opponent scoreless in the last minute and half of the game while creating safe distance after leading only by 69-68.
Lester Ramos accounted for half of the points in that game-clinching run for a 25-point, seven-rebound performance for So Kian.
Janjan Baltazar nearly matched Ramos’ scoring output with 24 points but had more rebounds with 13 for Eastside, which came back from 10 down but couldn’t capitalize.
