Armatech/MDX got even with D&E Degree after coasting to a 108-76 win in their second round encounter in the 2013 UFO-Budweiser Masters Division Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium of the TSL Sports Complex.

With the win, Armatech, which bowed to D&E Degree during the league opener in September, 56-70, forced a tie for third place with the latter behind Laguna/Erika’s Catering (4-2) and the undefeated and division leader Blue Haus (6-0). Pacific Islands Club and Shakir Realty, which have similar 1-5 slates, rounded out the team standings.

Armatech broke the back of the depleted Degree crew in the second quarter to set up the lopsided victory. Degree, which played with only seven players, was still in the game at the end of the first canto, facing only a 4-point deficit, 13-17, when Armatech went jugular in the next frame, unloading 32 points against. Bruce Berline and Elmer Pineda scored 6 points apiece in the second-canto assault, while Armatech drew at least 4 points each from four other players to take a 49-33 halftime edge.

The defending champion went on to retain the double-digit spread in the second half, as the best that the shorthanded Degree could do was move within 10, 56-66, midway in the third period. A 9-2 windup widened Armatech’s distance, 77-60, with George Poquiz drilling the team’s last 5 points in that quarter.

Pineda picked up where Poquiz left off in the fourth, nailing 6 of Armatech’s opening 8 points and it was just time before the defending champion got the sweet revenge against its first round tormentor.

The loss was Degree’s third straight after a strong 3-0 start. It played without big man Ed Cosino, who could have neutralized if not prevented Berline from creating damage on D&Q’s defense in the paint. Berline top-scored for Armatech with his 20 points and lorded it over in the rebounds department. Three other Armatech players finished in twin digits with Bernard Montano and Pineda adding 16 apiece and Martin Moreno chipping in 13.

Ferdia Tobias paced Degree with his 20 points, while Ariel Jinang and Ferdie dela Torre contributed 17 and 11, respectively. Alex Ocampo, the top-scorer for Degree in its 3-0 start, was held to 6 quiet points, as he struggled against the pesky defense of Yosh Gabaldon.

Armatech/MDX 108 – Berline 20, Montano 16, Pineda 16, Moreno 13, Poquiz 9, Gabaldon 8, Detera 8, Ebuen 5, Malasarte 4, Canedo 4.
D&Q Degree 76 – Tobias 20, Jinang 17, de la Torre 11, Drilon 7, Pablo 6, Ocampo 6, Rabago 3.
Scoring by quarters: 17-13, 49-33, 77-60, 108-76.