Focus draws first blood in Gusa tilt opener

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/sports/2016/04/05/focus-draws-first-blood-gusa-tilt-opener-466307
• Sunday, April 10, 2016

By Lynde Salgados

TEAM Focus dribblers defeated Acidus Farm on Tuesday night in Barangay Gusa Summer basketball tournament opener in Cagayan de Oro City.

But paired against the heftier Acidus Farm, the smaller wards of team manager, Kuya Kenneth Kho relied more on speed to notch the victory, 80-67 for the Ilaw ng Bayan.

The Mayor Oscar S. Moreno-led Team CDO also won big time in their exhibition match earlier with Gusa All Stars.

“Grabe’g stamina. Hago bilar sa kampanya pero sa basketball upat ka quarters walay puli-puli,” one observer said of the already senior citizen, Mayor Moreno.

With the towering Jojo Mahistrado dominant on the shaded lanes and Samboy Uy hitting from outside, Team Focus of coach Fred 'Titi' Pimentel found it hard to increase its 5-point lead in the first quarter.

But when Rex Armojallas, Owen Ubay-Ubay, Cyrus Diango, Koykoy Macapayag, Ramil Miralles, Totsie Daitol, Andit Sacabin, Bhoy Quirante, Tilap and company pressed the game faster, Focus made a breakthrough in the final half and never looked back.

“We could make it 20 midway of the fourth pero daghan kaayo turnovers. At least, puwede pa nato ma-improve ang dula in our next outings,” said the 68-year-old wonder Rey Leandro Asuncion, who rifled in back-to-back 3-pointers for Team Focus’ convincing finish.

“Hago sab kaayo ilang backcourt si Winnie Daba ra usa,” said Focus back-up guard Laglag Laurente.

Focus expects Subokin of coach Rocky Calingin and Green CdeO Eagles of the club’s newly-minted chairman, Dr. Welbourne Neri among its toughest rivals in the civic division of the exciting Barangay Gusa Summer hoopfest.