Contenders Ilocandia Bulls and Hanpa Cardinals open their second round campaign on a high note beating separate foes, Sunday in the ongoing 2012 season of the Filipino Basketball League at the Palau National gym.

The Ilocandia Bulls started strong as they feast early to beat the Jaguars, 87-45. After taking a 14-10 lead, the Bulls made a 29-13 run in the second to close the first half with a 43-23 advantage.

From there, the Bulls secured the tempo of the game and took the win with brothers Junevil and Jhune Villena leading the way with identical 12 points, respectively. The Bulls are now 6-3 in the team standings while the Jaguars are 2-7 despite the 14 point production of Nato Cayetano.

On the other hand, Hanpa Cardinals had a walk in the park as they bested Rams/PCGM, 95-76. Nhey Quito and Mac Naguit topscored for the Cardinals with 17 and 15 markers as they now sport a 3-6 tally while Clinton Rivera topscored for Rams/PCGM with 18 on the losing side as they continue to remain in the cellar with a 0-9 card.

The first two games of the day were rescheduled due to the 114th celebration of the Philippine Independence organized by The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) which was held at the Maris Stella School Auditorium.

Games will resume on June 17 with Western Union versus Surangel and Sons at 11 a.m. followed by the D’Originals-FR Spoilers match in the Master’s League at 12:30 p.m. as Hanpa Cardinals will meet the Jaguars at 2 p.m. while FR Spoilers will face the Ilocandia Bulls in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

Organizers are reminding teams who have not yet fully paid their league and injury fees to settle them within the week. Failure to fully settle the league fee will result of forfeiture of all games while failure to pay the injury fee will result to the players not to be allowed to play.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)