Shirley’s, Grillin’ complete playoff cast

 Grillin’ and Shirley’s secured the last two playoff seats in the 3rd Annual Shirley’s Coffee Shop Invitational Basketball League after recording contrasting wins last Thursday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Shirley’s played in the first game and needed overtime to beat GPPC, 100-99, while Grillin’ dominated Mobil in the second match of the night, 98-86. Mobil and Shirley’s now join Mobil (7-2), DFS Galleria (7-2), Fiesta (7-2), Pacific Islands Club/NVM (6-3), PSS/McGraw-Hill (5-4), and Hyatt Regency Saipan (3-6) in the eight-team playoff round. Wushin (2-7) and GPPC (2-7) are eliminated. Grillin’ and Shirley’s finished the round-robin regular season with similar 3-6 record, but the latter will occupy the No. 6 slot in the playoffs due to the winner-over-the-other rule.

Grillin’ delivered in a must-win game after drawing a big offensive night from James Kintz who then got enough support from Sonny Lero, Lerio Pagarao, and Galarse. All four Grillin’ players scored in double figures with Kintz firing 32, Lerio adding 21, and Pagarao and Galarse chippig in 14 and 13, respectively.

With Mobil already in the playoffs and having secured the No. 1 spot in the team standings, coach Marvin Deocares’ wards played flat and could not get their offensive game going. Mobil even lost Marvin Rabauliman in the opening minutes of the second quarter due to a bad fall, leaving the team with limited options on offense.

With one scoring threat gone, Grillin’ turned a 49-44 lead to a double-digit advantage in the third period, 76-64. Kintz led the third-quarter breakaway with his 12 points, while Pagarao, who missed the first period and was held to two points in the second canto, added eight. Mobil was held to two field goals in the last five minutes of the third period to fall behind by 12, entering the final canto.

Grillin’ kept the fire burning in the fourth quarter, while Mobil remained cold in the first three minutes of that period, allowing the former to pad the lead to 20, 84-64. Mobil never recovered from thereon.

Jun Estolas paced Mobil with 23 points, but failed to score in streaks in the first three period and made his 11 markers in the fourth when Grillin’ had the game already in the bag. Gyles Ruluked added 22. Rabauliman left in the second period with six points and a swollen right shoulder. The accident happened when Roy Hernandez faked off Rabauliman’s defense and the latter bit, went over the former’s back, and fell hard on the floor. Rabauliman then tried to prevent his head from slamming to the floor and used his shoulder as cushion.

In the first game, J.R. Barrios and Errol Peredo nailed eight and four points in overtime to lift Shirley’s to the one-point victory.

Peredo made all his points from the foul line with his last two free throws, giving Shirley’s the slim lead, 100-99, with less than 30 seconds remaining on the clock. Shirley’s had a chance to increase the lead when GPPC missed on the other end and Rommel Usi was fouled. However, Usi missed both charities and GPPC was left with 1.6 seconds to pull of for a game-winning shot.

After Usi’s second miss, GPPC collared the rebound and Randy Mungcal had the last shot, but muffed his jumper as time expired.

Barrios top-scored in Shirley’s close win with his 32 points, while Kae Bernardo added 18, Marlon De Dios contributed 15, and Usi and Fradel Sedillo chipped in 15 and 10, respectively. Mungcal exploded for 40 markers in GPPC’s last game of the season.

First Game

Shirley’s 100 – Barrios 32, Bernardo 18, De Dios 16, Usi 15, Sedillo 10, Peredo 9.

GPPC 99 – Mungcal 40, Ocamp 24, Montes 14, Morales 14, Sampang 4, Jalandoni 3.

Scoring by quarters: 23-20, 45-43, 62-66, 88-88, 100-99.

Second Game

Grillin’ 98 – Kintz 32, Lerio 21, Pagarao 14, Galarse 13, Ritual 8, Herrera 4, Hernandez 2, Rotap 2, J. Loste 2.

Mobil 86 – Estolas 23, Ruluked 22, Gamboa 16, Gapor 11, Demapan 8, Rabauliman 6.

Scoring by quarters: 26-22 49-44, 76-64, 98-86.