AXE Proa stretched its winning streak to three after outclassing KFC/Taco Bell, 72-62, in the first game in the Emon Lodge No. 179 Brotherhood Basketball League 2013/Docomo Pacific Cup last Saturday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The win also put AXE Proa in solo lead and brought KFC/Taco Bell (2-1) down to second place tied with defending champion Mobil. AXE Proa prevailed in the battle of unbeaten teams after catching KFC/Taco Bell off guard right in the first canto.

AXE Proa took a 16-point lead after the opening period, 29-13, as its unpredictable, but balance offense was unmatched by KFC. Five AXE Proa players scored at least two field goals apiece in the first frame and two others also made it to the board.

As for KFC/Taco Bell, which posted double-digit winning margins in its first two wins, there was little trace of its once mighty offense in the opening 10 minutes of play. Ivan Devero was held to a field goal, while fellow prolific scorer Lerio Pagaro went scoreless in the first canto. Only Ralph Francisco logged more than 2 points for KFC/Taco Bell in the opening quarter, but he also went on a slump in the last three periods.

AXE Proa took away KFC/Taco Bell’s fastbreak game right away to set the tone of match and while the latter struggled to find its offensive rhythm, the former had a lot of scoring options to keep the double-digit lead until the buzzer sounded.

Erick Dela Rosa, Jack Lizama, and Keoni Chariton finished with 10 points apiece for AXE Proa and their remaining nine teammates also made it to the board with eight of them drilling at least 4 points each.

Angelo Fernando and Pagarao top-scored for KFC/Taco Bell, nailing 12 points apiece. However, Pagarao canned no more than one field goal in each of the last three quarters after going scoreless in the first, while Fernando also failed to hit baskets in streaks.

Meanwhile, in the second match, San Roque snapped its two-game losing skid after whipping the winless Blazers, 77-61.

San Roque also used an early run to earn its first win and hand the Blazers their third loss in as many games. San Roque led by 15 after the first canto, 22-7, as it held the Blazers to two field goals in the opening frame. Melvin Cadiang, Shane Deleon Guerrero, and Sheen Metran posted 5 points apiece in the first period to give San Roque a good start.

San Roque went on to increase the lead in the next three quarters, as the best that the Blazers could do after a lethargic first period were notch 20 points in the second, still a point short of their foes’ output.

First Game

AXE Proa 72 — Dela Rosa 10, Lizama 10, Chariton 10, Barcinas 8, Alegre 8, Libuw 6, Aranda 5, Johnson 5, Villacrusis 4, Faisao 4, Tudela 2.

KFC/Taco Bell 62 — Fernando 12, Pagarao 12, Manglona 6, De Guzman 5, Francisco 4, Camacho 4, Brown 4, Devero 3, Bahillo 3, Achas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 29-13, 49-30, 60-44, 72-62.

Second Game

San Roque 77 — Cadiang 21, Sacramento 18, Deleon Guerrero 15, Lauron 8, Metran 8, Vertudez 4, Aquino 2.

Blazers 61 — S. Sablan 19, Jung 12, Taylor 11, Brennan 9, Quian 5, L. Sablan 4, Chargualaf 1.

Scoring by quarters: 22-7, 43-24, 64-44, 77-61