FUSION drew first blood in the best-of-three finals in the Architects + Engineers Basketball Association 1st Davies Paints Cup as they routed Stay Clean, 102-80, in the series opener on Sunday at the Cebu Eastern College gym.
Fusion took full advantage of the absence of Stay Clean’s top gun Mike Cinco and raced off to a fast start in the first half before cruising to the lopsided victory.
Ed Macasling flaunted his all-around mastery of the backcourt with 29 points and six assists while Klever Tomongha aided him with 19 markers. Big man Alfred Calumba pitched in 15.
Fusion led, 25-14, at the end of the first period and kept its foot on the gas pedal and extended its lead to 23, 53-30, at halftime behind the playmaking of Macasling, Tomongha and two-guard Julius Orit.
Stay Clean tried to rally in the fourth as JR Partosa and Paolo Alberto caught fire from beyond the arc but time eventually ran out on its comeback attempt.
Alberto led the losing side with 23 points while Paolo Besinga added 18. Partosa also chipped in 15. The trio combined to swish in 11 three-point shots, to match the total of their opponents.
Fusion will try to capture the championship in Game 2 this Sunday at the same venue.
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