Cabalen/Noni outlasts Ali’i Konflikt

 Cabalen/Noni withstood MAFEA/Ali’i Konflikt’s repeated rallies to pull off a 97-91 victory in the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup on Tuesday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

The win was the third in four games for Noni, moving the team up from fifth to a tie for third place with Bayani/Mobil. Ali’i Konflikt continued its on-and-off performance and dropped to a 3-4 mark.

Ali’i Konflikt played catch up all night and was frustrated as every time it closed in, Cabalen found ways to move out of trouble with Wowie Abuel, Kae Bernardo, and Lerio Pagarao alternately drilling rally halting baskets.

Abuel hit back-to-back triples in the closing seconds of the third quarter, turning a slim 64-63 lead to a 70-63 cushion entering the payoff period.

Noni made it a nine-point lead midway in the fourth, 85-76, but Junar Guiab and Elmer Esdrelon scored four quick points to stay afloat. Pagarao and Bernardo answered with their own four-point swing to widen the gap anew, but again Ali’i Konflikt kept fighting. This trend continued in the next four minutes of the fourth canto before Ali’i Konflikt run out of options in the last minute of the match.

A completed 3-point play from J.R. Barrios moved Ali’i Konflikt within three, 88-91, 59.6 seconds to go in the game. Pagarao upped the lead to five with a difficult fall-away jumper and when Ali’i Konflikt took possession this time it failed to produce when Guiab missed a short jumper.

With the clock ticking down, Ali’i Konflikt was forced to give up fouls, but sent the wrong guy to the foul line, as Bon Tamayo calmly sunk both free throws for Cabalen’s 95-88 advantage, with 43 seconds left on the clock.

Ali’i Konflikt muffed its chances to slice the lead when it faltered on its three attempts. Esdrelon’s triple rattled in and out of the rim and Jawn Joyner’s two putbacks also missed the target. Joyner later connected on a desperation three, but it was not enough to bring Ali’i Konflikt back into the game, which Pagarao sealed after going 2-for-4 in the last 20 minutes of the match.

Pagarao paced Cabalen with 22 points, while Bernardo and Abuel contributed 21 and 19 markers, respectively. Esdrelon top-scored for Ali’i Konflikt with 20, while Joyner and Barrios combined for 29 points. Ivan Devero also finished in double figures with 14, but was scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Cabalen/Noni 97 – Pagarao 22, Bernardo 21 Abuel 19, Yabut 8, Demapan 8, Tamayo 7, Basila 5.

MAFEA/ Ali’i Konflikt 91 – Esdrelon 20, Joyner 15, Devero 14, Barrios 14, Tumaquip 11, Mendoza 9, Guiab 4, Talania 2, Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-23, 48-42, 70-63, 97-91.