PIC eliminates Islander

Pacific Islands Club’s Jack Aranda goes up for an off-balance shot against Islanders’ J.P. Iglecias during the fourth quarter of their crossover playoff game in the San Antonio caging last Tuesday night at the San Antonio court.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Pacific Islands Club ousted division champion Islander in the crossover playoffs, 76-72, to march into the semifinals of the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League last Tuesday at the San Antonio court.

PIC gained a couple of possessions in the last 1:07 of the fourth quarter and Darwin Barbo turned them into 3 points off an alley-oop basket and a split free throw to eliminate Islander and join first game winner Blue Haus in the Final Four.

Barbo’s point-blanked shot at the left baseline off a lob from Mike Espinosa’s was PIC’s third attempt in less than 40 seconds. The first one was a drive from Espinosa at the left wing and he grabbed the offensive rebound after the miss then kicked the ball out to Jack Aranda at the left key. Aranda unloaded a jumper and faltered, too, while James Abuy picked up another offensive board for PIC. Abuy then swung the ball to Espinosa at the right key with the former temporarily left open for a triple and seemed ready to pull the trigger, but decided at the last minute to pass the leather to Barbo, who was airborne and nailed the basket against the outstretched arms of Islanders’ Kelvin Fitial.

Barbo’s field goal gave PIC a 75-72 advantage, going into the last 31 seconds of the match. Earlier before PIC’s series of possessions, Islander had a chance to grab the upper hand when the former committed another miscue, but Prince Factor was called for a palming violation on his way to the basket.

Islander moved within one after being down by 6 points, 67-73, entering the final three minutes of the match, as it scored 5 straight markers off PIC’s errors with Factor making a layup and splitting his charities and Zack Babauta also connecting a fastbreak basket.

Factor then had an opportunity to force a deadlock, but his desperation triple with the 24-second shot clock ticking was too strong and just hit the top of the rim. Barbo got the rebound and was fouled. The PIC big man made his first free throw and missed the second one, while Espinosa had a hand on the ball in the rebound play before losing it to Kelvin Fitial. Fitial went on to pass the leather to J.P. Iglecias on Islander’s frontcourt, however the latter’s heave hit nothing but air.

PIC regained possession with 1.9 ticks left on the clock and Barbo threw a long pass intended for Espinosa, but Fitial intercepted it and time expired with the Islander center still on the backcourt.

Islander, which won the west division title after a 79-75 triumph over MJD Enterprises in the finals early this month, led PIC in the first half, 42-38, before playing catch up midway in the third period.

The third canto ended with PIC ahead by 6, 61-55, but Islander kept moving closer in the fourth. Islander outgunned PIC in the first six minutes of the final period, 10-5, to cut the deficit to 1, 65-66, before Sean Rabasto knocked in 5 consecutive points off a corner triple that beat the 24-second shot clock and a short jumper in the paint to give PIC more cushion.

However, Islander refused to throw in the towel and mounted another comeback only to fall short in the end after allowing PIC to get multiple possessions in the closing minutes of the match and take the gutsy win.

PIC’s semis opponent will be the winner in GMJ/Wholesale-Ask Y U tiff, which will be played tonight.

Blue Haus, which cruised past Maplas in the other quarterfinal game last Tuesday, 94-72, will be paired against the victor of the MJD-Cholos match that will also take place tonight. The qualifiers in the crossover playoffs were the Top 4 finishers in the east and west divisions. GMJ/IKKI ruled the west division after topping Blue Haus in the finals, 81-75.

Blue Haus eased its way into the crossover semifinals after starting to dominate Maplas in the second quarter.

Ahead by only 4 at the end of the first frame, 24-20, Blue Haus played unselfish basketball in the second canto to open a 43-32 advantage at the break.

Blue Haus continued to distribute the wealth in the second half en route to its 22-point winning margin.

Angelo Fernando top-scored for Blue Haus with his 26 points, while three of his teammates also finished in double figures and three more combined for 23 markers.

First Game
Blue Haus 94— Fernando 26, Talania 16, Manalo 15, Demapan 13, Esdrelon 8, De Dios 8, Berline 7, Velasco 2.

Maplas 72— Viray 29, Rivera 22, Villanueva 9, Mungcal 7, Salazar 3, Lacson 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-20, 43-32, 65-53, 94-72.

Second Game
PIC 76— Aranda 22, Rabasto 21, Barbo 14, Quitugia 7, Galloway 6, Abuy 3, Espinosa 3.

Islander 72— Factor 24, Fitial 11, Lauron 8, Babauta 8, Malonzo 7, Iglecias 6, Manibusan 4, Diaz 2, Tenorio 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-24, 38-42, 61-55, 76-72.