Blue Haus/QQ Rent, SCS thwart foes

 Blue Haus/QQ Rent A Car and SCS Heavy Equipment out-steadied their respective opponents in the homestretch to pull off close wins in the 2011 DLX Basketball Invitational Friendship League last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Blue Haus/QQ played in the curtain raiser and slipped past Pacific Postal, 74-66, while SCS edged FGC in the second match of the night, 80-76.

The win was only the first for Blue Haus/QQ, which dropped its debut against MDX, 62-67, and had its second game against SCS postponed. Blue Haus/QQ escaped with an eight-point victory after almost wasting a 15-point advantage.

Blue Haus/QQ’s biggest lead was recorded at the 70-55 tally when it outgunned Pacific Postal in the first four minutes of the fourth canto, 13-4. Blue Haus/QQ then tried to melt the clock after posting a double-digit lead, but the strategy backfired, as it could not cash in on its last-minute attempts.

Pacific Postal, meanwhile, had its guns blazing and back-to-back triples from siblings Mico and Rommel Usi moved the team within six, 66-72, with 1:04 left on the clock. Pacific Postal launched an 11-2 rally to return to the game.

Pacific Postal had a chance to move closer when Blue Haus/QQ missed on its next offensive set, but Rex Yabut’s kick-out pass to the left key to Rommel Usi was too strong and went to the sideline, returning possession to their foes.

Pacific Postal then gave up two quick fouls, but failed to send any Blue Haus/QQ player to the foul line, as the former was not yet in the penalty. In the ensuing play, Blue Haus/QQ did a great job avoiding contact with Pacific Postal before Brandon Talania canned a 15-foot jumper to seal the win.

Badong Camacho paced Blue Haus/QQ with 17 points, while Edwin Camacho chipped in 14.

In the second game, Manolo Manalo scored nine points and went 3-for-6 from the foul line in the fourth quarter to lift SCS to the four-point victory.

SCS took the win despite falling behind by as much as 12 points early in the first period. SCS had only six players in the opening canto and was limited to six points in the first four minutes of the game, allowing FGC to notch an 18-6 advantage. Ron Gamboa led FGC with 12 points in the first frame for their 25-17 advantage.

FGC remained in control in the second canto, 43-36, before SCS made the move late in the third with big man Glen Aquino reporting for duty. Aquino hit back-to-back triples in the closing minutes of the third and scored eight points to put SCS on top, 62-60.

SCS stretched the lead to seven, 70-63, after holding FGC to one field goal in the first four and a half minutes of the fourth off Gamboa’s triple.

After a slow start in the fourth, FGC managed to have a short 9-2 rally to tie the game, 72-all, 2:14 left on the clock. That was the last time FGC knotted the count, as it missed a couple of triples and free throws, while Manalo fired seven of SCS’ last eight points to save the win.

Manalo broke the tie with a fastbreak layup, Ferdie Tobias split his charities, and Manalo made another inside basket for a 77-72 cushion, 55 seconds left on the clock. Manalo added two more free throws to up the lead, 79-72, before FGC answered with four straight points to stay in the game, 79-76, 13 ticks left. Manalo was fouled anew on two occasions and went 2-for-4 to ensure the win.

First Game

Blue Haus/QQ Rent A Car 74 – B. Camacho 17, E. Camacho 14, Fernandez 10, Sison 8, Abedes 8, Talania 7, Cruz 4, Olivos 2.

Pacific Postal 66 – R. Usi 24, Johnson 10, Yabut 9, Bicera 8, Acosta 8, M. Usi 6, Tenepere 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-21, 38-37, 57-51, 74-66.

Second Game

SCS Heavy Equipment 80 – Manalo 26, Guiang 15, Mina 12, Aquino 10, Ritual 9, Tobias 3.

FGC 76 – Barrios 22, Gamboa 19, Dayrit 11, Llagas 6, Gabaldon 6, Camacho 6, B. Montano 4.

Scoring by quarters: 17-25, 36-45, 62-60, 80-76.