KENNY ROGERS HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES IN GAME 1
Kenny Rogers Rocacurva scores 33 points to lead San Fran to Game 1 win over Consolacion
Kenny Rogers Rocacurva exploded for 33 points and San Francisco seized control with a 1-0 edge over the Consolacion Sarok Weavers in the 2018 Governor’s Cup Inter-Cities/Municipalities Basketball Tournament North Division Finals.
San Francisco protected their home turf as they cruised past the defending North Division champions Sarok Weavers, 8468, in Game 1 of the best-of-three series in the San Francisco Gym in Camotes Island last Sunday.
Rocacurva, who plays for Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U) Wildcats in Cesafi, was his usual brilliant self with 33 points and14 rebounds on top of five steals and two assists.
Rocacurva put up 24 points in the second half, including the backto-back triples that gave San Francisco the biggest lead, 70-53, with about six minutes left in the game.
“There’s pressure because it’s a championship game, but I just enjoyed the game. We are used to playing on this court,” said Rocacurva, who shot 4-out-of-8 from the arc.
“Kenny will always be Kenny in our games. He will deliver numbers for the team. But for this game, Kenny got huge support from teammates. It’s a team effort for us,” said San Francisco head coach Christian Liaz.
Liaz was referring to the two players who scored in double figures. Wilson Pleños Jr. contributed 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals, while Jake Laurence Gonzales had 12 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Liaz also credited the fans as one of the factors that helped them with the Game 1 victory.
“The basketball fans in San Francisco came out to watch the game despite the weather. We really appreciate their support,” he said.
San Francisco, which debuted only this season, is one win shy of earning the North Division title, and Liaz wants his team to show the same effort and intensity come Game 2 in Consolacion tomorrow.
“Although we won the first game, we have a lot of adjustments, especially on our defense and rebounding. We will work as a team in Game 2 and hopefully win the series there,” said Liaz.
San Francisco rushed to a 1610 lead in the first quarter and had a 34-30 edge at the half. Consolacion was able to bring the gap to one, 40-39, at the early part of the third quarter but San Francisco staged a 16-6 run to keep the visiting team at bay, 56-45, at 3:35 in the third.
San Francisco had a 13-point lead, 62-49, at the start of the fourth quarter before posting the biggest lead at 17 after two consecutive triples from Rocacurva to break the game open.
Patrick Montaño led Consolacion with 24 points and 14 rebounds, while Emmanuel Villamor added 20 points and 12 rebounds.