T Galleria nips IT&E in OT

T Galleria’s Marlon De Dios, center, attempts a shot over the outstretched arms of IT&E’s Bruce Berline left, while the latter’s teammate Lerio Pagarao looks on during the second quarter of their playoff game in the intergovernment/business caging last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

T Galleria stole the semis berth from IT&E after pulling off an 81-75 overtime win in their playoff game in the 2016 IT&E Inter-Government/Business Basketball League last Friday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Junar Guiab canned the equalizer in regulation and then scored 4 points in the extra period to hand T Galleria the third semis ticket and eliminate IT&E, which bungled an 16-point advantage in the first half.

IT&E held T Galleria to a field goal in the first quarter for a 16-2 lead and made it an 18-2 spread after Edwin Santos started the second frame with a pair of charities. However, T Galleria began working its way back into the game after that and cut the deficit to a deuce at halftime, 37-39.

Marlon De Dios, who tallied T Galleria’s 2 points in the first period, had 10 markers in the second to lead his team’s recovery. He also drew enough support from his teammates to bring IT&E’s lead down to single digit.

However, IT&E regained the double-figure advantage at the end of the third, 57-47, behind the 11 markers of Lerio Pagarao.

Despite facing another twin-digit deficit, T Galleria never gave up and this time it was Brendon Talania who anchored the squad’s fightback, knocking in 9 points. De Dios chipped in 7, while Guaib’s basket under the one-minute mark of regulation tied the match and gave T Galleria a chance to make it to the semifinals.

Guaib, who just scored 2 points in the first three quarters, continued his heroics in the extension, drilling a pair of field goals, while Ivan Devero and Talania contributed 3 markers each.

IT&E, on the other hand, was held to one field goal off Errol Peredo’s basket and two charities from Angel Fernando.

With the close win, T Galleria set a semis duel against MJD tonight at 6:30pm.

Meanwhile, the second semis matchup at 8pm will have DFEMS challenging Pacific Islands Club as the former defeated Best Sunshine International, 79-71, in last Friday’s quarterfinal tiff.

Ben Lisua towed BFEMS to the Final Four after firing a game-high 28 points. Josh Sablan backed him up, chipping in 20, 18 of them came from beyond the arc.
Arvin Fernandez led BSI’s losing cause, scoring 24.

First Game
T Galleria 81— De Dios 19, Talania 19, Devero 16, Esdrelon 12, Guiab 10, Espana, Manalo 2.
IT&E 75 — Pagarao 31, Deleon Guerrero 13, Santos 11, Fernando 8, Peredo 4, Berline 3, Manalo 2, Bernal 2.
Scoring by quarters: 2-16, 37-39, 47-57, 71-71, 81-75 (OT).

Second Game
DFEMS 79 — Lisua 28, Sablan 20, Pua 14, Santos 11, Rabauliman 4, Deleon Guerrero 2.
BSI 71 — A. Fernandez 24, Guiang 18, Demapan 13, Tudela 6, Anonuevo 4, J. Fernandez 4, Badal 3,
Scoring by quarters: 10-14, 38-35, 51-51, 79-71.