Mobil, FGC win GBL IT&E Cup debuts

 Four more teams debuted in the Garapan Basketball League IT&E Cup with Mobil and FGC winning their opening games last Friday at the Garapan Basketball Court.

In the curtain-raiser, FGC routed Andhok’s, 72-59, while Mobil held off a fourth quarter rally by Proa to eke out an 82-81 victory.

Juan Maratita drilled the winning basket for Mobil, as he split his charities with one second left in the game. Maratita trooped to stripe after getting a pass from Jun Estolas in a transition play and drawing a foul from a Proa defender. The former Kagman High School stalwart made his first free throw and with only a second remaining on the clock intentionally muffed the second one.

Mobil led Proa in the first quarter, 20-16, thanks in part to Angelo Fernando’s six points. The Marvin Deocares-coached Mobil stretched its advantage to as much as 12 in the second period before finishing the first half with an eight-point cushion,44-36. Jun Estolas heated up in the second quarter with nine markers.

Then at the start of the second half, Proa regrouped and managed to keep pace with Mobil. Seven Proa players stepped up in the third quarter to move within a basket, 58-60, heading into the final period.

The game remained close in the fourth period and eventually Mobil won it from the foul line.

Estolas paced Mobil with 17 points, while Maratita added 16. Dan Barcinas led Proa with 17 markers, too.

Meanwhile, FGC defeated Andhoks after a big third-quarter push. FGC was on top by only six at halftime, 34-28, when Kae Bernardo led the breakaway in the third, scoring eight points to lift his team to a 57-40 advantage.

Bernardo turned in a game-high 22 markers, while Dan Mateo led Andhoks with 15.

Bernardo and Ron Gamboa heated up early, as they combined for 14 in FGC’s 18-10 lead. Bernardo added six more markers in the second quarter to help maintain the driver’s seat.

First Game

FGC 72 – Bernardo 22, Gamboa 17, Pagarao 9, Yabut 9, Babauta 6, Santos 3, Lerio 3, Basila 2.

Andhok’s 59 – Mateo 15, Umali 11, Wesley 9, Tenorio 5, Artates 4, Dayrit 4, Montano 4, Johannes 2, Lauron 2, Park 1.

Scoring by quarters: 18-10, 34-28, 57-40, 72-59.

Second Game

Mobil 82 – Estolas 17, Maratita 16, De Guzman 12, P. Lizama 12, Demapan 8, Factor 8, Fernando 8, Moises 1.

Proa 81 – Barcinas 17, A. Rabauliman 16, Norita 11, J. Lizama 10, Johannes 9, Chariton 5, Mendiola 5, J. Sablan 5, Libuw 2, Ogumoro 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-16, 44-36, 60-58, 82-81.