Degree/UPAA stunned defending champion Armatech/MDX, 70-56, in the first game in the 2013 UFO-Budweiser Masters Division Basketball League last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium of the TSL Sports Complex.

Degree leaned on the streak shooting of Alex Ocampo to pull off the 14-point victory over Armatech, which was in control of the Masters opener in the first half before collapsing in the third and failing to recover in the fourth canto.

Ocampo tormented Armatech with his patented pull-up short jumpers and finished with a game-high 23 markers. At one point in the second canto, the Degree shooting forward cashed in on five straight jumpers and his 14 markers in that period prevented an Armatech breakaway, as his team only faced a 9-point deficit at halftime, 28-37.

Armatech had its best offensive game in the second frame before suffering a major breakdown in the third quarter where it scored only two field goals and 4 points. Only Bruce Berline and Jojo Detera made it to the board for Armatech in the third period. Degree then countered Armatech’s offensive meltdown with a balance scoring, as Ocampo drilled 6 more points and four of his teammates contributed at least 3 points apiece.

By the end of the third quarter, Degree had already taken the driver’s seat from Armatech, 46-41, and the former went on to cruise to its first win of the season. Ocampo failed to hit his mark in the final canto, but his teammates step up to complete the come-from-behind win.

Ferdie Tobias and Ed Cosino joined Ocampo on the list of double figure scorers for Degree with the team’s quarterback adding 13 points and the squad’s center chipping in 11. Six other Degree players also scored in their debut win.

Martin Moreno paced Armatech with his 15 points, while Berline logged 11, but was held to one field goal in the entire second half. The rest of the members of the defending champion picked up garbage points.

Meanwhile, the second Masters game in the opening day will be reported in Saipan Tribune’s Wednesday’s edition.

Degree/UPAA 70 – Ocampo 23, Tobias 13, Cosino 11, Pablo 7, Drilon 5, De Guzman 4, Salazar 4, Valdez 3, De La Torre 2.

Armatech 56 – Moreno 15, Berline 11, Gabaldon 8, Montano 7, Detera 4, Crisostimo 4, Pineda 4, Ebuen 3.

Scoring by quarters: 10-9, 28-37, 46-41, 70-56.