Kanoa Resort/MIFICPA escaped past the Hoopaholics/Visminda, 71-70, during the opening game in the 2013 UFO-Budweiser Masters and Open Division Basketball League yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Kanoa stole the victory in the opener despite falling behind by twin digits early in the fourth quarter. Don Brennan and the returning Bobby Coldeen connived in Kanoa’s come-from-behind win with the latter hitting back-to-back triples to spark the team’s rally. Coldeen also drilled the go-ahead basket in the closing seconds, while Brennan nailed 14 of his game-high 28 points in the final canto. With Brennan and Coldeen leading Kanoa’s recovery, the winning squad outgunned the Hoopaholics in the fourth quarter, 28-19.

The Hoopaholics crumbled after controlling the first three quarters of the match. Zack Babauta converted two early triples for the Hoops, while Jerry Diaz made one from downtown, lifting their team to a 16-10 advantage. Kanoa fell at the get-go after scoring only four field goals.

Kanoa then picked up its scoring in the second canto with Brennan firing 9 points and Sean Sablan connecting on two shots from beyond the arc. The Hoopaholics, on the other hand, drew baskets from eight different players to stay on top at the break 34-30.

After finishing the half with 11 markers, Brennan was held to one field goal in the third, while Sablan went scoreless and Coldeen continued to struggle, failing to make it to the scoreboard after three periods. The Hoops kept its balance offense to stretch the advantage to 8 entering the final canto, 51-43.

Another triple from Babauta gave the Hoops a double-digit lead before Coldeen answered with two straight treys to bail his team out. Brennan also scored in streak, connecting on three straight baskets after Coldeen’s triple. He had another string of points midway in the fourth, tallying 7 straight markers. The shooting guard went on to score 9 of Kanoa’s last 13 points and his team saved the one-point victory after the Hoopaholics failed to make a basket in the last 12 seconds of the match.

Kanoa and Hoopaholics were among the six (out of eight) teams in the Open division that joined the opening ceremony yesterday. Kanoa also won the Best in Uniform contest and was joined in the parade by AXE Proa/MDX, KB Market/SIP, Ladder Beach/Cavite, and D&Q Degree/MAFEA. Mobil/Bayani and Hi-Five/Cabalen missed the opening ceremony.

In the Masters division, D&Q Degree/UPAA won the Best in Uniform award. Also present at the parade were defending champion Armatech/MDX, Shakir Realty/MAFEA, Blue Haus/SMF, Pacific Islands Club/NMBA, and Erika’s Catering/Samahang Laguna.

Kanoa Resort/MIFICPA 71 – Brennan 28, Duenas 11, Sablan 10, Coldeen 8, Tenepere 4, Ano 3.
Hoopaholics/Visminda 70 – Fitial 17, Babauta 12, Itibus 11, Manibusan 9, Diaz 5, Tenorio 4, Mendez 4, Villagomez 4, Lauron 2.
Scoring by quarters: 10-16, 30-34, 43-51, 71-70.