Sealions, MOB trip Naughty Needlez in Danny Espiritu Cup

Sealions and MOB won their respective matches against Naughty Needlez in the second week of the 2013 Danny Espiritu Cup held last week.


Naughty Needlez, a team composed of ex-pros and TV personalities first bowed to an Egay Billones-led Sealions, 94-84 at the Treston International College Gym in Taguig. They later in the week would lose to MOB, 91-85 at the Letran Gym.

Sealions dominated Naughty Needlez from the start, even erecting a 20-pt lead in the second quarter. Ian Garrido leading the way with 19 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Gilbert Malabanan who had 15 points. Ed Asoro added 12 markers while Billones netted 11.

MOB relied on Jopher Custodio to anchor a 16-2 blast in the third quarter to turn a four-point deficit into a ten-point lead, while Jeff Viernes helped expand it to 17 with three minutes remaining, giving themselves a large enough lead that Naughty Needlez would not be able to overcome.


Viernes finished with a game-high 20 points and 10 assists while Custodio contributed 17 markers.

Naughty Needlez remains winless in the tournament, named after the famous sports agent.
 

The scores:

First game

Sealions 94 -- Garrido 19, Malabanan 15, Asoro 12, Billones 11, Martinez, 9, Zagala 8, Solis 7, Junio 6, Santiago 5, Alao 2, Villareal 0, Tuble 0.

Naugthy Needlez 84 -- Martinez 21, Canta 16, Vijandre 8, Cunanan 8, Espinosa 7, Valles 7, Alcaraz 7, Cabonce 6, Alandy 4.

Quarters: 27-20, 55-38, 76-66, 94-84.

Second game

MOB 91 -- Viernes 20, Custodio 17, Melencio 13, Reyes 10, Corpuz 8, Cornejo 7, Liaz 5, Maconocido 5, Ranises 3, Acosta 2, Montilla 1, Sarangay 0, Gonzalgo 0.

Naughty Needlez 85 -- Taupa 19, Canta 18, Espinosa 15, Martinez 12, Aguilar 8, Alcaraz 4, Ybanez 4, Cunanan 3, Alandy 2, Vijandre 0.

Quarters: 20-22, 37-42, 66-62, 91-85.