Ali’i Konflikt barges into semis

 MAFEA-Ali’i Konflikt escaped its way to the semifinals of the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup after pulling off a nail-biting 79-77 win over VisMinda/Satbahi on Tuesday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

J.R. Barrios drilled the winning basket in the last .5 second off a perfect inbound pass by Elmer Esdrelon. Ali’i Konflikt players rushed to the court and celebrated the win, while VisMinda cagers approached the referees and table officials, verbally protesting the last-second shot.

VisMinda argued there was no way the basket could have been counted with only .5 second left on the clock.

However, referee Gabriel White stood by his earlier call, citing FIBA rules on the last-second shot. FIBA rules state that “near the end of a period, the game clock must show at least 0:00.3 (three tenths of a second) for a player to secure control of the ball and attempt for a goal. If the clock reads 0:00.2 or 0:00.1, the only legal goal must be made as a result of a tap or an alley-oop dunk.

Barrios’ game-saving basket started with Esdrelon going for the inbound play after Eugene Mangali canned his second free throw that tied the game at 77-all. Esdrelon threw one long heave from the baseline and a sprinting Barrios picked up the ball and went up for the basket.

VisMinda contended that Barrios dribbled the ball first before making the finger roll. However, White saw otherwise as after Esdrelon’s heave, the ball bounced twice and with Barrios’ hands near the leather, it appeared the latter dribbled, but did not.

VisMinda coach Marlon Sison said in a text message to Saipan Tribune that they will protest the game. As of press time, league coordinator Bong Malasarte said they have yet to receive a formal protest letter from VisMinda.

According to the UFO caging ground rules, a protest must be filed within 24 hours after the game and a $250 bond must be made. The deadline should have lapsed at 10pm last night.

As for White, the game was not under protest after VisMinda failed to follow FIBA rules for filing a protest. FIBA’s protest procedures call for the team captain to inform the referee that his squad is protesting the result of the match immediately after the game and sign the scoresheet in the space marked “captain signature in case of protest.”

It was VisMinda assistant coach Rey Perez who wrote the word protest but he did it at the back of the scoresheet.

VisMinda suffered a heartbreaker despite leading majority of the match. It still had full control of the game at the 5:25 mark of the fourth quarter, 71-61.

Then Ali’i Konflikt came back to their senses and launched an 11-0 run to take the driver’s seat for the first time, 72-71. Ali’i Konflikt started the rally with an Ivan Devero’s split from the foul line and then big men Edmark Mendoza and Jawn Joyner hit back-to-back triples. Devero also nailed a long jumper to threaten VisMinda, 70-71, and Ali’i Konflikt finally took the upper hand when Barrios connected on his jackknife drive, 72-71, 3:04 left on the clock.

A Rolly Paraiso split tied the match, 72-all, before Esdrelon broke the deadlock with a booming triple, 2:15 remaining in the game. Esdrelon earlier muffed five treys in the fourth quarter before connecting on his sixth attempt.

The two teams traded misses and errors for more than a minute before Glenn Aquino drilled a bank shot down low to move VisMinda within one, 42 seconds to go in the match.

In Ali’i Konflikt’s possession, Barrios lost the leather and Joyner gave up a preemptive foul on Mangali, who had a split to tie the game anew, 75-all, 29.6 seconds left in the fourth.

Ali’i Konflikt also went to the stripe in the next play with Sison fouling Esdrelon, who went 1-for-2, giving his team a precarious 76-75 lead, 12.4 seconds to go. Sison tried to regain the lead when he drove hard to the basket, but was covered well by Devero and missed the shot. Joyner collared the rebound, was fouled with 4.0 left on the clock, and had a split, giving Ali’i Konflikt only a two-point lead, 77-75.

VisMinda sued for time and when game resumed Aquino’s inbound pass from the sideline intended for Mangali touched no one and went to the baseline. Ali’i Konflikt regained possession, but Barrios again lost the leather, which Mangali picked up. Mangali drove to the basket, was fouled, and drilled the two charities.

After the second free throw, Esdrelon had the presence of mind to throw a long pass and Barrios made up for his earlier booboos by converting the crucial, but controversial shot.

With the win, Ali’i Konflikt will battle Cavite/Andok’s in the semis. The other semis pairing that will be played tonight will have undefeated Namfrel/Proa going up against Bayani/Mobil.

MAFEA-Ali’i Konflikt 79 – Devero 26, Joyner 21, Esdrelon 12, Barrios 10, Guiab 3, Mendoza 3, Tumaquip 2.

VisMinda/Satbahi 77 – Mangali 16, Manalo 13, Barbo 11, Aquino 10, Inos 7, Sison 6, De Dios 6, Paraiso 3.

Scoring by quarters: 16-20, 27-37, 52-60, 79-77.