Sinigang escapes San Roque, 72-71

  Sinigang remained in contention for a playoff spot in the 2012 DLX/DL JOS Inter-Color Basketball League after pulling off a 72-71 win over San Roque last Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Sinigang now has a 2-3 record for a tie for fourth to sixth place with Brabu Gualo Rai and San Roque in the Bracket B standings, just one win behind third placer Banahaw Restaurant (3-3). Only the Top 4 teams after the round-robin elimination will make it to the playoffs and KFC/Taco Bell (6-1) and the Fastbreakers (6-1) had already secured the two early playoff tickets. R-Lyn’s (1-3) and Wushin (0-6) complete the group.

After trailing by as much as 13 early in the fourth quarter, Sinigang held San Roque to only two field goals in the last 7:51 of the match to steal the win.

A triple from Angelo Fernando capped San Roque’s 9-2 scoring in the opening two minutes of the final canto, turning a 58-52 lead to a double-digit advantage, 67-54.

Sensing trouble, Sinigang sued for time and regrouped, launching its own 12-0 rally to move within one, 66-67, before Emerson Bautista stopped the bleeding for San Roque with a baseline basket. Fernando added another 2 points to San Roque’s lead, 71-66, with his layup, going into the final 2:05 of the match.

However, Sinigang kept coming back and tied the match in the last 51 seconds, 71-all, with Michael Moran splitting his charities, J-Boy Gotengco making a fastbreak layup after a San Roque miss, and Gary Macahito nailing a bank shot off a counter steal. Sinigang managed to score 5 straight points in the last two minutes without giving up any for San Roque as the former used their fouls wisely to halt the latter’s offensive sets.

Another San Roque botched play returned possession to Sinigang, which finally grab the lead, 72-71, after Gotengco was fouled and split his charities.

Michael Achas then had a chance to regain the upper hand for San Roque, but faltered on his drive. Sinigang controlled the board and trooped to the foul line anew when Prince Factor was fouled on his way to the basket. Factor went 0-for-2, however he redeemed himself after stealing the ball from Ryan Odicta in a scramble play and drove to the basket anew. Factor missed again, but the ball hit Bautista last in the rebound play before going out to the baseline.

After the bad break, San Roque got lucky when Jeron Ano’s inbound pass to Moran hit the former’s foot. San Roque regained possession in the last 25.5 seconds and went to its money man, Fernando, who called for an isolation from the right key. The San Roque gunner had the ball for more than 10 seconds, but was later forced to give it up as Moran and Factor shut the door on him. Odicta got the pass, but gave it quickly to Bautista at the baseline, and the latter also hesitated on taking the crucial attempt, making a drop pass to Hidalgo, who had the leather rolling in between his legs as the 24-second shot clock expired.

Sinigang had the last possession and just threw the ball in the final 1.5 seconds to complete the come-from-behind win.

Mawati 68, LD Prime 55

In a low-scoring game in Bracket A, Mawati (3-1) boosted its playoff chances after beating LD Prime.

Mawati limited LD Prime to no more than 11 points in the each of the first three quarters to get full control of the match en route to the 13-point win.

Jerome Reyes paced Mawati with 16 points, while Webster Guntar and Spam Avila chipped in 10 apiece.

Nat Banatasa had 13 for LD Prime, which fell to a 1-4 record and is unlikely to advance to the next round.

First Game

Sinigang 72 – Gotengco 16, Factor 14, Jeri. Habijan 12, Moran 9, Ano 6, Macahito 6, Lapuz 4, Jera. Habijan 3, Madreo 2.

San Roque 71 – Fernando 27, Ma. Achas 14, Bautista 12, Odicta 4, Salazar 4, Mi. Achas 4, Claveria 3, Hidalgo 3.

Scoring by quarters: 18-18, 36-41, 52-58, 72-71.

Second Game

Mawati 68 – Reyes 16, Guntar 10, Avila 10, Tenepere 8, Ibanez 7, Serrano 4, Harris 4, Corotan 3.

LD Prime 55 – Banatasa 13, Rollon 10, S. Quemado 8, Abaygar 8, Magtuloy 7, Hernaez 4, Pena 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-11, 34-22, 54-31, 68-55.

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter