Gold Ballers still in playoff contention

The Gold Ballers’ Dennis Cortez, right, challenges two Empe Light players for the rebound during an earlier game in the IT&E-sponsored 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus caging at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Back-to-back wins in the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League over the weekend kept the Gold Ballers’ playoff hopes alive.

The Gold Ballers first defeated the Green Minded, 88-77, last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium and then stunned playoff qualifier Batang Bear Brand in overtime last Sunday, 91-79, to improve its record to 4-6 for a tie with Vendetta for ninth to 10th place in the team standings.

Only the Top 8 teams will advance to the playoffs and with one game left in the elimination, the Gold Ballers could still catch up with three other teams—Spigen (5-5), Green Minded (5-6), and Team Sawi (4-5) for the last three tickets to the next round.

Againts Batang Bear Brand (6-3), the Gold Ballers held its opponents to a field goal in overtime for the 12-point win. Multiple players scored for the Gold Ballers in the extension, while Ron Gamboa made the only basket for Batang Bear Brand.

Five Gold Ballers players ended up with double figures in their upset over Batang Bear Brand. Dan Mateo led the way after recording 24 points, 3 in the extra period. Prince Factor added 17 with 5 of them coming in overtime, while Dennis Cortez, Raymond Velasco, and Arvin Avila all hit the board in the extension and finished with 14, 13, and 12 markers, respectively.

Gamboa had 24 points for Batang Bear Brand, while Hal Spott chipped in 19.

The Gold Ballers also played a team basketball to beat Green Minded last Saturday.

Factor tallied 16 points, Velasco contributed 14, and Mateo registered 13. Leomo made 12 points, while Bryan Manabat and Rommel Usi had 10 apiece to complete the Gold Ballers’ balance offense.

While the Gold Ballers spread the wealth, it was a different case for the Green Minded, which relied on the 33 points of Ivan Devero. Ramil Tibayan was the only other Green Minded player to score in twin digits, but his 10 markers were scattered.

Saturday Game
Gold Ballers 88 — Factor 13, Velasco 14, Mateo 13, Leomo 12, Manabat 10, Usi 10, Alano 9.
Green Minded 77 — Devero 31, Tibayan 11, Barrios 9, Itaas 8, Armia 6, Santos 3.
Scoring by quarters: 22-17, 42-36, 68-58, 88-77.

Sunday Game
Gold Ballers 91 — Mateo 24, Factor 17, Cortez 14, Velasco 12, Avila 12, Leomo 4, Usi 3, Alano 2.
BBB 79 — Gamboa 24, Spott 19, Esdrelon 15, Che 12, Ariar 6, Devero 3.
Scoring by quarters: 18-23, 35-32, 56-55, 77-77, 91-79 (OT).