Fourth-quarter surge lifts World Resort to win

World Resort rallied past Kanoa Resort in the fourth quarter to win its first playoff game, 67-54, in the 2014 Budweiser Inter-Hotel Basketball League last Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

World Resort went on a 23-7 scoring binge in the final canto to turn a 44-47 deficit at the end of the third period to a 13-point victory and boost its semis chances. World Resort’s foe has yet to be determined, but another win in its next game will move the team to the semifinals. Kanoa, on the other hand, has to prevail in its next game to avoid early elimination.

World Resort’s Jomar Danas, center, goes up for a shot against Kanoa Resort’s Fred Litulumar, right, and Matt Duenas during the first quarter of their playoff game in the Inter-Hotel caging last Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Kanoa is in danger of getting booted out of the seven-team field after making only three field goals in the fourth quarter. Matt Duenas dropped two field goals and scored 5 of the team’s total production in the pivotal period, while Kean Torres nailed the other two markers.

While Kanoa Resort had only two players making it to the scoreboard in the fourth quarter, World Resort got contributions from multiple players. John Lewis Jr. matched the output of the entire Kanoa Resort crew, while Eugene Manglona chipped in 6, while four others added one field goal apiece.

The 23 points World Resort recorded in the final frame was the team’s largest in a quarter. World Resort had only 14 in the opening canto to fall behind by 3 points. Edward Armia led Kanoa Resort’s good start, firing 7 markers, while only Kae Bernardo knocked down more than one field goal for World Resort.

Bernardo’s teammates started hitting their mark in the second period, as World Resort improved its shooting a bit to force a standoff at halftime, 33-all. Jomar Danas scored 6 points and three of his teammates drained at least two field goals apiece, while Duenas led Kanoa Resort with his 7 points.

Duenas was then held to 2 points in the third period, but Kanoa Resort managed to regain the upper hand, thanks to Mico Usi and Armia. After making only one field goal in the entire first half, Usi hit three straight baskets for Kanoa Resort in the first five minutes of the third period, while Armia finished what he started, hitting the team’s last 6 markers.

World Resort failed to move in front in the third canto, as it canned only four field goals and only three players scored for the squad. The needed help and balance scoring came in for World Resort in the fourth quarter with Lewis leading the team’s uprising. Before showing up in the final frame, Lewis converted only two field goals in the first three periods.

Four World Resort players finished in twin digits with Manglona registering 15, Danas tallying 14, and Dennis Vinas and Lewis earning 13 and 12, respectively. Duenas paced the depleted Kanoa Resort with his 19 markers, while Armia logged 15. Kanoa Resort played with six players in the first three quarters before its seventh man arrived early in the fourth.

World Resort 67 – Manglona 15, Danas 14, Vinas 13, Lewis 12, Bernardo 9, Mostales 2, Tiamzon 2.

Kanoa Resort 54 – Duenas 19, Armia 15, Litulumar 8, Usi 8, Torres 4.

Scoring by quarters: 14-17, 33-33, 44-47, 67-54.