Mamba notches second semis ticket

Mamba bagged the second semis berth in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League after eliminating Purple Rain, 88-70, in their playoff match last Friday at the Navy Hill Court.

Mamba’s Brendon Talania, center, drives against Purple Rain’s R.J. Reyes, left, and Adrian Flores during the fourth quarter of their playoff game in the Blue Haus-IT&E caging last Friday at the Navy Hill court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mamba managed to take a double-digit winning margin despite falling behind by as much as 12 points in the first quarter (12-24) after outgunning Purple Rain in the closing minutes of the third and sustaining its momentum in the fourth.

Still down at 45-50, with three minutes and change in the pivotal third canto, Mamba went on a 16-5 windup to grab the driver’s seat entering the final frame, 61-55. Christian Devero sparked the rally, scoring four straight baskets, while Brendon Talania finished what the former’ started, as the latter also registered 8 straight points.

Talania picked up where he left off, firing 6 of Mamba’s first 10 points in the fourth period to give his team its first taste of the double-digit spread, 71-60. Mama went on to protect its safe distance, as the rest of Talania’s teammates contributed to the team’s cause.

Talania and Devero combined for more than half of Mamba’s total points with the latter firing a game-high 35 markers and the former logging 24 despite missing the entire first quarter and a few minutes of the second.

Paul Bautista paced Purple Rain with his 18 points.

Bautista and company collapsed as it resorted to several long-distance shots, which only began to fall late in the final quarter with Mamba already in full control. Purple Rain lost the battle for the second semis ticket despite building a promising 24-14 lead at the end of the opening canto. Bautista gave Purple Rain a good start, nailing 11 of his total output in the first period before he was held to two field goals and two free throws in the last three cantos.

Donnel Isip and R.J. Reyes were the other double-figure scorers for Purple Rain with 17 and 15, respectively. Purple Rain was without big man Bruce Berline and was down to six players after Adrian Flores fouled out midway in the fourth period.

Meanwhile, results of the two other playoff matches over the weekend will be reported this week. Winners of the Saturday and Sunday games will join outright semifinalist Makalaro Lang and Mamba in the Final Four.

Mamba 88 – Devero 35, Talania 24, Orbeta 6, Macoto 6, Mina 6, Tolosa 5, Woodson 4, Abadilla 2.

Purple Rain 70 – Bautista 18, Isip 17, Reyes 15, Deleon Guerrero 10, Leomo 8, Flores 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-24, 36-42, 61-55, 88-70.