COUGARS DOMINATE GECKOS

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By Niko Bulaon

Cougars Caroline Poppe goes for the base line bank shot. (photo by Jose Perez)

Days after their first loss of the season against the Southern Dolphins, the Academy Cougars got back up by defeating the GW Geckos in a blowout win, 72-34, at the AOLG gym Tuesday night.

In the first minute of the first quarter, the Cougars took off after a layup from Caroline Poppe, but a two-pointer from Geckos Dyonii Quitugua put her team on the board, 6-2.

Cougars Alina “ICE” Bonto sparked a Cougars 9-0 run with a quick layup. Free throws from GW’s Geana Leon Guerrero tried to keep the Geckos in the game, but it wasn’t enough as the quarter ended with back-to-back layups from Cougars Louise Baza.

Starting the second with a score of 19-4, Baza put in another basket to keep the Cougars scoring frenzy alive. Quitugua and Leon Guerrero laid in the easy baskets to put points on the board, but Bonto and teammate Gemilie Ilao stepped back in, extending their huge lead with easy layups, ending the second with the score at 33-12.

With Academy’s staters out at the start of the third quarter, the Geckos fought back to try and break their opponents’ lead. But in the fourth minute, Bonto finally put in a basket and starting yet another Academy run, with the help of teammates Baza and Kali Benavente, putting the score at 45-17.

A tough defense left Cougars Gemilie Ilao an open lane for an easy layup. (photo by Jose Perez)

Geckos Maricia Mariano stepped up with a quick two-pointer to end her team’s scoring slump. But it wasn’t enough as Cougars Kiersten Pangelinan ended the third with a two-pointer in the last three seconds.

With the score at 51-25, it was the Cougars’ game to lose. As the Geckos tried to rally a run as fast as they could, the Cougars shut their opponents down with three three-pointers from Dolores Herrera to end the night with an ecstatic crowd.

“Our coach told us to work hard, to never give up, to keep on fighting,” said Bonto about their blowout win. “It was one loss in the season, but that wasn’t it, we still have a long way to go.”

With the playoffs close by, Bonto stated, “If we play to our full potential, if we execute, I think we will do pretty well.”

Bonto led her team with 13 points, three rebounds, three steals, and an assist with the help of teammate Baza with 12 points.

Other Scores

Harvest 33, JFK 30
Southern 61, ND 21 (Dolphins hold high-scoring Royal Destiny Castro to only six points)
Okkodo 53, Sanchez 28

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Geckos Zea Nauta gets by a defender and drives baseline to the basket. (photo by Jose Perez)

Geckos Antoinette George draws a foul with her short jump shot. (photo by Jose Perez)

Kali Benavente sets motions to set up the Cougar offense. (photo by Jose Perez)

Geckos Maricia Mariano was able to make the two points and draw the foul. (photo by Jose Perez)

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