Sunrisers, Andhok’s survive playoff foes

Two down-to-the-wire finishes highlighted the start of the playoff round of the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity Basketball Invitational Friendship League last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

In the first game, Jawn Joyner hit a buzzer-beating jumper to lift the top-seeded Sunrisers/Island Apparel to a 77-76 win over last playoff qualifier SCS Heavy Equipment Rental, while second-ranked Mobil Smiles missed four free throws in the homestretch, allowing the seventh-seeded Andhok’s to pull off an upset in the second playoff match, 73-70.

The Sunrisers are now in the semifinals and will be facing the winner of the QQ Car Rental-Crystal Pure game this Friday, while Andhok’s semis foe will be the victor of the Blue Haus-Shirley’s Coffee Shop tiff. Blue Haus plays Shirley’s tonight at 6:30pm, while the QQ-Crystal Pure match is set for 8pm. Losers of tonight’s playoff games will join Mobil and SCS in the showers.

Last Monday’s playoff games were held after the league took a weeklong break and the Sunrisers showed some rust due to the lull, allowing SCS to control the first three periods of the match.

SCS led by as much as eight in the second period before the Sunrisers’ outside shots began falling in the third and fourth canto to engage SCS in a seesaw battle and force several deadlocks.

The match was last tied at 75-all after an SCS putback and Preston Basa had a chance to break the tie with his two charities, but missed both. Jack Lizama collared the rebound, drew a foul on Pete Lizama, and trooped to the stripe, but made only one free throw for SCS’ precarious one-point lead, 76-75, 26 seconds left on the clock.

Another Basa miss, this time from the 3-point area, returned possession to SCS, as Lizama fought for the loose ball and was fouled anew. However, Lizama muffed both pressure-packed charities and with seven seconds left in the match, Joyner grabbed the rebound and dribbled all the way to their frontcourt with SCS defenders hounding him. He then stopped and popped past the top key of the rainbow arc for the game-winning shot.

The second playoff match between the favored Mobil and dark horse Andhok’s was another cardiac game with the former wasting several opportunities to eliminate the latter.

Mobil was in front for the last time, 70-69, after Jun Estolas completed a three-point play, 50.5 seconds left on the clock. Mike Umali swung the lead back to Andhok’s with his own and-1 play, but missed the bonus charity, 71-70.

It was Bart Demapan’s turn to step on the 15-foot line in the ensuing play after driving into the basket and drawing a foul from Umali. However, Demapan’s nerves got the better of him, as he faltered both free throws. Demapan tried to redeem himself when he got the offensive board after the second miss, but he overshot his mark and was forced to foul Jorge De Guzman to stop the clock that read at 16.5.

De Guzman then had a split, giving Andhok’s a two-point cushion, 72-70. Mobil sued for time after De Guzman made his second free throw and when the game resumed, the former went to its moneyman, Estolas, who was fouled on his way to the basket. Estolas, who earlier went 7-for-7 from the stripe, this time was 0-for-2 and after the second miss, Mobil was obliged to give up another foul.

With 5.5 seconds left, Gino Libuw went to the foul line, missed his first charity, but hit the second one for Andhok’s 73-70 lead. Mobil called timeout anew to set up a game-tying play for Estolas. Mobil players followed the game plan, but failed to complete it, as after coming off a screen from Gyles Ruluked and having a clean look at the basket from the left key, Estolas’ triple was too strong. The Mobil gunner made another attempt when he got the offensive rebound, but his heave near the right sideline was way short as time expired.

Libuw top-scored in Andhok’s upset over Mobil with his 19 points, while Raymark Castro and De Guzman added 15 and 14, respectively. Umali chipped in 10, while Tim Wesley had only six points, but was a force in the paint, making several blocked shots against Mobil’s big men. Wesley held Ruluked to a quiet 12 points and only two in the final canto.

The fourth quarter started with Andhok’s launching an 8-0 run to turn a 53-52 lead to a 61-52 advantage, with still over eight minutes left in the game. Mobil coach Marvin Deocares pressed the panic button after Andhok’s led by nine and Estolas anchored a comeback before falling under pressure in the homestretch against the rag-tag crew of Andhok’s coach Boy Garcia.

Sunrisers/Island Apparel 77[/B] – Joyner 21, Lizama 16, Basa 15, Sablan 12. Mendez 7, Manibusan 6.
[B] SCS Heavy Equipment 76[/B] – Lizama 26, Galarse 21, Mina 9, Ritual 8, Tamayo 8, Pantaleon 2.
[B] Scoring by quarters: [/B]19-23, 37-41, 57-54, 77-76.
[B] Second Game

Andhok’s 73 [/B]– Libuw 19, Castro 15, De Guzman 14, Umali 10, Wesley 6, Capalad 5.
[B] Mobil 70 [/B]– Estolas 27, Fernando 11, Ruluked 12, Demapan 10, Moises 8.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 18-20, 33-35, 53-52, 73-70.