Dark All-Stars outshine Light

The Dark and Light All-Stars put on show in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League All-Star Game as the two teams engaged in a shootout and run and gun game Saturday night at the CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan.

In the end, the Dark All-Stars outgunned the Light All-Stars, 107-105, with MIGS’s Bonbon Cadagat firing all weapons left in his arsenal in the last 1:20 of the game.

Cadagat scored seven of Dark All-Stars’ last nine points in the remaining 1:20 of the match, while Jericho Cruz made several stops and assists to lift their team to a come-from-behind win.

The Light All-Stars led by as much as 13 points in the first quarter, 33-20, but started losing control of the game in the closing minutes of the third period, as they missed one triple after another and committed many errors.

One of these turnovers was at the midcourt when the Dark All-Stars’ Jericho Cruz pressured Elmer Esdrelon and grabbed the ball.

Cruz then passed the ball to Cadagat who was a few steps away from a Light All-Stars defender and made an uncontested layup putting the Dark All-Stars in the lead, 100-99, with 1:20 remaining on the clock.

Cadagat made it 103-99, when he canned a triple off a Jun Estolas screen from the top key. But Esdrelon answered with his own triple to cut the lead to a hair, 102-103, with less than a minute left in the game.

Cruz found the Light All-Stars’ defense napping in the ensuing play, passing the ball to Kae Bernardo, who was free underneath the basket.

Esdrelon missed a floater on the other end, but the Dark All-Stars failed to control the rebound giving Esdrelon another chance to go up for a shot. This time, Esdrelon made a triple from the left baseline tying the game at 105-all, with 36 seconds left in the game.

Cadagat took matters in his owns hands, anew when he asked for a clear out. He escaped past Wowie Abuel and Alex Lauron for a floater from the left wing to give the Dark All-Stars the lead, 107-105, with 32 seconds remaining on the clock

The scores remained unchanged as both teams committed errors.

The Light All-Stars were called for a three-second violation on its offensive play. Itaas drove to the middle, but decided to kick the ball out to Lauron, who also had hesitations taking a long jumper. He hesitated too long that Itaas was caught staying in the paint beyond the allowed time.

With three seconds left in the match, the Dark All-Stars inbounded the ball from the right sideline of their frontcourt and committed a backing violation when Estolas passed the ball to Sonny Lerio, who was on the Light All-Starsí court.

The Light All-Stars regained possession in the last two seconds of the game, but failed to make a decent shot. Itaas’ inbound pass to Esdrelon was tapped by Cadagat with a second remaining on the clock.

Itaas inbounded the ball anew and threw the ball to Esdrelon, who was at the right left corner of the court, and fumbled first once he received the pass before attempting for a triple.

Cadagat was named All-Star MVP with his 22 points, making 11 in the payoff period.

Cruz led all scorers with 28 markers.

Marvin Deocares coached the Dark All-Stars, who were also composed of Banjo Basila, Badong Camacho, Melvin Villarin, Melvin Capalad, and Leo Factor.

Dark All-Stars 107—Cruz 28, Cadagat 22, Estolas 12, Camacho 12, Factor 10, Bernardo 8, Lerio 7, Capalad 4, Villarin 2.

Light All-Stars 105—Palero 17, Montano 15, Esdrelon 14, Abuel 14, Vinas 12, Delos Reyes 8, Guiab 6, Itaas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-33, 50-59, 79-all, 107-105.