Garapan, MDX outlast opponents

Garapan Gigolos and MDX Amigos saved the best for last to slip past separate foes in the playoff round of the Masters division in the 2009 Navy Hill Friendship Basketball League at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Gigolos drew big contributions from Adonis Macoto and Ferdinand De la Torre in the fourth quarter to turn a 65-66 third quarter deficit to a six-point win over Wild Boys, 92-86, Sunday night. Macoto and Dela Torre nailed nine and seven points in the payoff canto, respectively, as Gigolos outgunned the tired Wild Boys in the fourth period, 27-21.

Wild Boys played with only seven players and remained afloat in the first three quarters behind the sniping of Jun Abedes, Roland Tengco, and Bobby Vargas before fatigue slowed them down in the fourth canto.

Abedes and Tengco were the only Wild Boys to score more than four points in the fourth. Vargas went scoreless in the payoff quarter, while three others tallied only two points apiece.

De la Torre, who was sluggish in the first three periods after nailing only two points each in the first and second quarters and a free throw in the third, connected on three field goals and a charity in the payoff quarter.

Macoto was the most consistent offensive threat for Gigolos. He had nine markers at halftime, added seven in the third before closing out the fourth with nine points for a team-high 25 points. Three-point gunner James Abuy also helped Gigolos’ cause. He drilled five points in the fourth after making 14 in the first half.

On Monday’s playoff game, the sixth-seeded MDX Amigos used a 30-15 scoring in the fourth canto to stun the fifth-ranked Gualo Rai Bombers, 93-81.

Nelson Samson anchored Amigos’ fourth-quarter attack, scoring 11 points. Bernard Montano added six, Butch Sublemente and Martin Moreno had four apiece and Bong Malasarte and Ian Castro combined for five points.

The Bombers led by as much as nine points at halftime, 47-38, and were still in front at the end of the third period, 66-61, before they ran out of artillery in the fourth canto.

No Bombers players made more than two field goals in the payoff quarter, as the best Danny Bicera and Ed Cosino could do was tally four points apiece.

With the loss, the Bombers were booted out of the tournament, joining Wild Boys, Marianas Ice, and Marianas Wireless in the showers.

Gigolos advanced to the next round against the second-seeded Jaypers, while Amigos will play Ebisuya in the other playoff game this Saturday. Winners of the two matches will join pennant champion C.K. Legends to the next round. Once the league is down to three teams, the first two squads to win two games will meet in a best-of-three title series.

Sunday’s Game

Garapan Gigolos 92 – Macoto 25, Abuy 19, De la Torre 12, Carino 10, Fernandez 6, Brien 5, Domingo 5, Cortez 2, Galsote 2, Barros 2.

Wild Boys 86 – Abedes 38, Vargas 15, Tengco 14, R. Dizon 8, Bonto 3, N. Dizon 3.

Scoring by quarters: 19-22, 45-45, 66-65, 92-86.

Monday’s Game

MDX Amigo 93 – Montano 25, Samson 19, Sublemente 11, Malasarte 11, Moreno 8, Castro 7, Galulu 6, Canedo 4.

Gualo Rai Bombers 81 – Bicera 26, Cosino 15, Lansang 14, S. Ebuen 6, Garon 5, Pineda 5, Dayrit 3, O. Ebuen 3.

Scoring by quarters: 22-26, 38-47, 61-66, 93-81.