Mobil sneaks past PSS

PSS/McGraw-Hill choked in the last 2:25, allowing Mobil to steal a 96-94 win in the lone game played in the 3rd Annual Shirley’s Coffee Shop Invitational Basketball League last Saturday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

PSS committed errors, missed shots, and was indecisive on defense in the homestretch, while Mobil hustled out, took high-percentage shots and made clutch free throws to work its way back into the game and grab the victory despite falling behind by as much as 18 in the first half.

Marvin Rabauliman completed Mobil’s come-from-behind win, as he scored 20 of his 43 points in the crucial fourth quarter. His three straight points off a split free throw, an offensive rebound, and putback moved Mobil within one, 88-89, 1:23 left on the clock. PSS once held an 88-79 advantageat the 2:25 mark of the fourth frame.

Jun Estolas then forced a jumpball on Walter Mendez in the ensuing play and possession arrow was pointed to Mobil, which later stole the lead, 90-89, after Rabauliman fed Gyles Ruluked at the baseline.

After his layup, Ruluked intercepted Maverick Itibus’ inbound pass and Rabauliman had another assist as he found Gil Gapor lurking underneath the baskets for a reverse and Mobil’s 92-89 lead.

Rabauliman made it a 93-89 cushion, off his split, as Mobil regained another possession after the former harassed Dave Sablan, who lost the ball to the sideline. After the error, Sablan went on to redeem himself with a banked triple that cut Mobil’s lead to one, 92-93, 20.3 seconds to go in the game.

Rabauliman trooped to the stripe anew when PSS gave up a foul after failing to steal the ball and the Mobil forward had another split for a slim 94-92 advantage. PSS sued for time, but failed to complete a play when Sablan barreled his way into a phalanx of Mobil defenders and was called for a traveling violation on his spin move.

Mobil had the possession in the last 11.6 seconds and after the inbound Sablan failed to swipe the ball away from Rabauliman. Then instead of giving up a quick foul, PSS wasted precious seconds before doing so. Gapor was finally fouled in the last 3.3 seconds and he canned both charities to seal the win.

Mobil played catch up after falling behind in the first period, 8-26. Mendez outgunned the entire Mobil crew in the opening canto with his 12 points. Mobil still trailed by double digits at the break, 33-45, despite getting 12 points from Rabauliman in the second canto. Sablan nailed 18 of his 43 markers in PSS’ first-half domination.

Estolas, who made no more than two field goals in each of the first two quarters, anchored Mobil’s comeback in the third, as he fired 14 points. Rabauliman added seven and Mobil was back on track, 62-67, with still a full quarter to go.

PSS hung in there behind Sablan’s daredevil drives and Itibus’ breakaway layups before collapsing in the last 2:25 of the match. PSS absorbed back-to-back losses and fell to a 5-2 record for third place in the team standings. Mobil kept the top spot with its 7-1 slate.

Meanwhile, GPPC won via forfeit over Hyatt to improve to a 2-6 record. Hyatt players thought they were scheduled to play in the second and not in the first game.