Pacman noses out PIC, 84-83

Pacman recovered from its debut loss in the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League after nipping Pacific Islands Club, 84-83, last Tuesday at the San Antonio court.

Pacman’s Henry Sablan is double- teamed by GMI/IKKI’s Joshua Melendez, left, and Juan Camacho during the second quarter of their opening game in the San Antonio caging this month at the San Antonio court. Pacman lost, 70-71, but recovered quickly with an 84-83 victory against Pacific Islands Club last Tuesday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Sonny Lerio made a layup in the closing seconds to hand the victory to Pacman, which incidentally also dropped its opener against GMI/IKKI by only a point, 70-71, early this month.

Pacman avoided another heartbreaker when Lerio dribbled toward their frontcourt after PIC lost the leather on the other end and eluded three defenders chasing him off his spin move from the right wing. PIC had the chance for the last shot, but the ball was stolen by Pete Lizama and time expired, according to league officials.

Lerio’s go-ahead layup was his lone basket in the fourth quarter and it allowed him to finish in double figures with 11 points. Jun Tabora paced Pacman with his 23 markers, while Rocyl Ritual and Lizama chipped in 18 and 12, respectively.

Jack Aranda matched Tabora’s output, while Darwin Barbo and Mike Espinosa contributed 14 apiece with the latter putting PIC on top for the last time with his undergoal stab before Lerio stole the thunder from the Marianas High School standout.

Pacman pulled off the close victory after coming back from a 6-point deficit at the beginning of the fourth quarter, 60-66. Ritual and Tabora teamed up in the fight-back before Lerio made the most important basket in the game. Ritual drilled 7 of Pacman’s first 8 markers in the final canto, while Tabora tallied 8, including 5 straight in the closing minutes.

PIC lost the upper hand in the fourth, as only Ham Hambros hit more than two field goals in the payoff frame. Aranda was held to two baskets, while Barbo and Espinosa were limited to one apiece.

Meanwhile, GMI/IKKI topped the Sonics, 79-72, in their U18 game last Wednesday.

GMI/IKKI now has a 2-0 record to share the lead with Ferrera Builders, while the Sonics dropped to a 0-2 card.

Ignacio Borja top-scored for GMI/IKKI, registering 17 points. He drew enough support from his teammates with Jethro Cruz adding 16 and Djay Ong and Antonio Santos logging 11 and 10, respectively.

Mark Mintac had 21 for the Sonics.

In the other game last Wednesday, Ask Y U B won via default against Maplas. Ask Y U B improved to a 2-0 mark to join MJD on top of the team standings in the East Group, while Maplas fell to a 0-2 slate.

Open
Pacman 84 – Tabora 23, Ritual 18, Lizama 12, Lerio 11, Hernandez 6, Laguindam 5, Capalad 5, Rangamar 4.

PIC 83 – Aranda 23, Barbo 14, Espinosa 14, Hambros 12, Rabasto 9, Feria 7, Calloway 4.

Scoring by quarters: 20-15, 34-36, 60-66, 84-83.

U18
GMI Market 79 – Borja 17, Cruz 16, Ong 11, Santos 10, Rios 6, Sablan 6, Alipio 6, Kintaro 4, Atalig 3.

Sonics 72 – Mintac 21, Borromeo 14, Salalila 8, Diyco 6, Bautista 6, Dionisio 4, Muna 4, Espinosa 4, Ignobay 1.

Scoring by quarters: 18-16, 40-35, 56-48, 79-72.