Island’s Best Choice hands Ghasias Brothers first loss

Island’s Best Choice’s Matt Duenas pulls up for an uncontested shot during the closing minutes of their game against Ghasias Brothers in the DL caging last Tuesday night at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

There is no more undefeated team in the DL Sports Association Invitational Basketball League Season 5 as Island’s Best Choice downed Ghasias Brothers, 102-92, in the second game last Tuesday night at the San Antonio court.

Island’s Best Choice snapped Ghasias’ five-game winning streak while improving its record to 3-4 with one game left in the round-robin elimination. Despite the loss, Ghasias, with its 5-1 mark, remains at the top half of the team standings, as it occupies the second spot behind outright semifinalist Mobil (6-2). Island’s Best is in the middle of the team standings and still has a chance to finish in the Top 4 where the first two placers get the automatic semis tickets and the next two drawing byes in the first round of the playoffs. The No. 5 to 8 placers, on the other hand, will also qualify into the playoffs, while the last finisher will be eliminated.

Matt Duenas top-scored in Island’s Best victory, making 35 points. Duenas and company led from start to finish, as they capitalized on the absence of Ghasias’ key players. Ghasias will play the remaining games in the regular season and in the playoffs without Fred Pelisamen and Jack Lizama, who were banned from the league after figuring in a fight with Kalayaan’s Sawad Henderson.

Douglas Schmidt tried to fill the void left by Pelisamen and Lizama on Ghasias’ offense, and matched Duenas’ output, but he clearly needed help from his teammates. The support came in late, as Island’s Best had repeatedly established double-digit leads with Duenas getting backup from Angelo Fernando, Jawn Joyner, and JV Bayking.

Fernando chipped in 19 points, while Joyner added 16, including a one-handed slam that put the finishing touches on Island’s Best’s victory. Bayking contributed 11.

Meanwhile, in the first game, CES Electronics also reached the century mark en route to a 112-102 win over GMI Market.

CES now has a 4-2 record for third place in the team standings, while GMI Market fell to a 2-3 card.

CES played a balance offense to beat the young guns of GMI Market. Six of the seven CES players who graced the team’s box scores tallied double figures with Syl Teregeyo leading the way with his 26 points. White Capalad added 23, while Justin Andrew and Jerome Norita posted 18 and 15, respectively. James Kintz registered 14, while Patrick Salalila had 10.

Djay Ong led all scorers with his 31 points, while Jethro Cruz recorded 24 for GMI Market, which stayed in the game in the first half before being outgunned by CES in the second.

CES turned a 55-46 halftime lead to an 85-66 spread with Teregeyo knocking in 10 points in the third quarter and four of his teammates making 4 points apiece.

First Game
CES 112—Teregeyo 26, Capalad 23, Andrew 18, Norita 15, Kintz 14, Salalila 10, Lizama 5.

GMI Market 102—Ong 31, Je. Cruz 24, Atalig 15, Sablan 13, Nakashima 14, J. Cruz 7.

Scoring by quarters: 30-24, 55-46, 85-66, 112-102.

Second Game
Island’s Best 102—Matt Duenas 35, Fernando 19, Joyner 16, Bayking 11, Devero 6, Manny Duenas 4, M. Usi 4, Odicta 3, Bongalan 2, Aniciete 2.

Ghasias Brothers 92—Schmidt 35, JR Pelisamen 14, B. Pelisamen 11, D. Pelisamen 12, E. Pelisamen 7, Jo. Pelisamen 7, R. Pelisamen 6.

Scoring by quarters: 25-18, 49-34, 73-58, 102-92.