QQ beats Estolas-less Mobil

QQ Car Rental capitalized on the absence of Mobil gunner Jun Estolas to cruise to a 80-69 win in the first game in the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity/Miller Lite Basketball Invitational Friendship League last Friday night at the Gualo Rai Basketbal Court.

QQ now has a 4-3 record for third place in the team standings in the 10-squad field, boosting its chances of advancing to the quarterfinals. Mobil absorbed its second loss in five games, as besides Estolas, the Marvin Deocares squad also played without big men Bart Demapan and Leo Factor.

Despite the absence of its key players, Mobil still managed to lead at the end of the first period, 23-20, behind the 12 points of Gyles Ruluked. However, it was all Ruluked show in the next three quarters for Mobil, while QQ drew big games from Elgene Mangali, Rolly Paraiso, and Lerio Pagarao to steal the win.

Paraiso and Mangali combined for 11 points in the second canto, outscoring the entire Mobil team and lifting QQ to a 37-33 halftime lead.

The lead was stretched to 11 after the third period, as Pagarao sizzled for nine points in that canto and QQ converted three triples. Then in the fourth canto, Paraiso put the finish touches to QQ’s win, making 11 in the payoff period.

Mangali paced QQ with 29, while Paraiso and Pagarao added 19 and 14, respectively.

In the second game, Rex Yabut drilled eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to power Crystal Pure to an eight-point win over Andhok’s Grille.

Crystal Pure (2-4) was ahead by only a hair at the end of the third, 40-39, when Yabut and Gilbert Miranda canned important baskets that helped their team keep its distance against Andhok’s (2-5). Miranda scored Crystal Pure’s first four points, while Yabut made the next three and later nailed free throws that seal the deal for the team.

Andhok’s played catch up in the entire game, as it was held to 10 points in each of the first two quarters.

QQ Car Rental 80 – Mangali 29, Paraiso 19, Pagarao 14, Cruz 8, Mateo 5, Sison 3.

Mobil 69 – Ruluked 32, Fernando 17, Moises 6, Bicera 4, Reyes 4, Galzote 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-20, 37-33, 61-50, 80-69.

Crystal Pure 59 – Yabut 20, Bernardo 13, Lerio 10, Miranda 9, Danipog 4, Cadag 1.

Andhok’s Grille 51 – Capalad 11, Castro 11, Wesley 10, Camacho 9, Umali 6, Garcia 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-10, 29-20, 40-39, 59-51.