Veteran Avenido leads Skyforce in Danny Espiritu Cup

Leo Avenido goes for the layup. Contributed Photo from OneUniteSports.

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran guard Leo Avenido starred in Skyforce’s strong showing in the opening week of 2013 Danny Espiritu Basketball Cup.

Avenido, a former MVP in the Asean Basketball League (ABL), fueled Skyforce in its 93-83 win over GlobalPort, and 93-76 opener victory over Expert Global Solutions held at Treston Gym in Taguig.

Averaging 16 markers a game, Avenido consistently led the fightback of Skyforce, which had to recover from sluggish starts in back-to-back matches.

Skyforce needed to halt the veteran shooters like Glen Capacio against newcomer GlobalPort, a team composed mainly of the coaching staff of its PBA team, to take over for good.

Former Jose Rizal University stand out Floyd Dedicatoria also contributed 14.5 points in two games for Skyforce, which fell to Mighty in last year’s finale of tourney named after the country’s premier sports agent.

The scores:

First game

Skyforce 93– Avenido 16, Dedicatoria 14, Sotto 10, Caceles 9, Sanders 8, Enrile 8, Capistrano 8, Sta. Maria 7, Allera 5, Vergara 4, Misolas 2, Tan 2, Visacarra 0, Salansang 0, Sta Cruz 0.

EGS 76 — Caspe 16, Catamora 10, Valena 10, Kalaw 10, Ranises 8, Arias 8, Sigua 5, Feliciano 4, Roda 3, Catamora A. 2, De Vera 0, Milano 0, Lanzar 0, McCoy 0.

Second game

Skyforce 93 — Avenido 16, Dedicatoria 15, Sotto 14, Sanders 11, Allera 8, Viscarra 8, Vergara 6, Enrile 6, Sta. Cruz 4, Tan 3, Sta. Maria 2, Misolas 0.

GlobalPort 83 — Gamboa 17, Sta. Maria 14, Bercede 13, Capacio 12, Arejola 8, Manalo 8, Adducul 5, Tenerepe 3, Bernal 3, Gavina 0, Tiamson 0.