Best Deal/RNV rallies past Triple J

Best Deal/RNV Construction’s Ronald Rueda, left, is fouled by Triple J’s Ian Obnimaga during the closing seconds of their game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Best Deal/RNV Construction outhustled Triple J in the closing seconds of the Pool A game in the JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League to pull off a 79-74 win last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Best Deal/RNV had multiple possessions in the last 17 seconds of the match, with the first one coming after Ronald Rueda muffed a pair of charities. With the back-to-back misses, Best Deal/RNV’s lead still stood at 2 points, 74-76, but Triple J wasted an opportunity to tie the match as it failed to control the ball when Felix Palacios’ pass to Perry Inos was too strong. Rueda then picked up the loose ball and trooped to the stripe anew, this time making his first charity for their 77-74 advantage, down to the last 12 seconds of the match.

Rueda faltered on his second free throw attempt, but beat Ian Obnimaga to the ball after a long rebound. Triple J was then forced to give up another preemptive foul. Rueda went on to hit both charities to seal the deal for Best Deal/RNV, with 4 seconds left on the clock.

The victory was Best Deal/RNV’s second straight after losing its first three games, while Triple J is still winless in four matches.

Rueda top-scored for Best Deal/RNV with his 25 points, 21 of them came in the second half. Andy Mortos also finished with 20-plus points after tallying 24, as he and Rueda brought Best Deal/RNV back into the game after the squad fell behind by 11 in the first quarter, 14-25.

Triple J seemed ready to take control of the match and end its losing skid when Inos and Aris Oris waxed hot early and handed their team a double-digit lead after the first 10 minutes of play. Inos had 10 straight points in the opening canto, while Oris made 8 consecutive.

However, Triple J failed to sustain its strong start with Inos and Oris not getting enough help from their teammates. Mortos, on the other hand, carried Best Deal/RNV on his shoulders in the second quarter after firing 13 points, while Rueda took over in the third, making up for his 4-point performance in the first half. The Best Deal/RNV point guard knocked in four triples in the penultimate quarter and scored 14 to move Best Deal/RNV within 4, 56-60, entering the final frame.

Meanwhile, GPPC and CTSI/D&Q recorded easy wins last week.

GPPC topped McDonald’s, 70-56, in last Thursday’s curtain-raiser, while CTSI/D&Q was awarded the victory via forfeit against Konstrak Builders.

GPPC pulled away in the second quarter as it held McDonald’s to 8 points, turning a 24-17 advantage to a 44-25 halftime lead. GPPC never looked back from thereon for its second straight win after a 0-2 start.

CTSI/D&Q got its first victory in two games after only three Konstrak Builders players showed up for last Thursday’s second match. Konstrak Builders fell to a 0-4 record and is at the bottom of the team standings in Pool B.

Thursday Game
GPPC 70 – Mungcal 24, Ocampo 22, Sampang 7, Lagura 6, A. Tagle 5, Norial 4, Santos 4, Bandojo 2.

McDonald’s 52 – Mi. Achas 21, Macaranas 12, Gapor 6, Mc. Achas 4, Gaspar 4, J. Achas 3, Ayuyu 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-17, 44-25, 55-44, 70-52.

Friday Game
Best Deal/RNV 79 – R. Rueda 25, Mortos 24, Jumaquio 9, Alfonso 5, Baul 5, Cabalquinto 4, Odicta 3, J. Rueda 2, Corong 2.

Triple J 74 – Inos 26, Oris 23, Palacios 7, Obnimaga 6, Jarabe 6, Olopai 2, Patron 2, Geli 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-25, 35-42, 56-60, 79-74.