Team Sawi ousts Empe Light

Team Sawi’s Errol Peredo, second left, drives and loses the ball against two Empe Light defenders during the fourth quarter of their game in the IT&E-sponsored Ali’i Blue Haus caging last Wednesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Team Sawi eliminated Empe Light following an 80-77 victory during their game in the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League last Wednesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

J.R. Concepcion scored all his 12 points in the fourth quarter to help Team Sawi overhaul a 10-point deficit in the third canto and pull off the 3-point win. Team Sawi now has a 5-5 record with one game left in the regular season and remains in contention for the last three playoff berths. Empe Light is done for the season and with its 3-8 mark has been booted out of the competition.

Concepcion made Team Sawi’s last 5 markers with his triple giving his squad cushion, 78-73, after Richard Peredo canned a running jumper to move Empe Light within 2, 75-73. Melvin Gallardo then missed a layup on the other end, returning possession to Team Sawi.

With the time on its side, Team Sawi worked the ball around before Errol Peredo made an entry pass to the cutting Matt Buenabajo, who then decided to make an extra feed to Concepcion for the uncontested banked shot and the squad’s 80-73 lead, with less than 30 seconds left in the match.

Jerome Reyes answered with back-to-back baskets in the remaining seconds of the game, while Team Sawi again used the clock to keep its lead.

Errol Peredo top-scored for Team Sawi with his 36 points, while Brendon Talania also broke into double figures with his 18 markers.

Rabasto led Empe Light with his 22 points, while Reyes and Gallardo added 15 and 14, respectively, on a losing effort.

Meanwhile, in the second game, Batang Bear Brand ended Black Mamba’s six-game winning streak after coasting to a 90-68 victory.

Burly center Hal Spott asserted his might in the paint and exploded for 34 points in Batang Bear Brand’s easy win. With the victory, Batang Bear Brand tied Black Mamba at the No. 2 spot as they now hold identical 7-3 records. The Silencer is at solo top spot with its 8-2 record.

Ron Gamboa backed up Spott in giving Batang Bear Brand its seventh win after firing 29 points.

First Game
Team Sawi 80 — Peredo 36, Talania 18, Concepcion 12, Malagui 6, Directo 4, Galulu 2, Ceralde 2.
Empe Light 77 — Rabasto 22, Reyes 15,Gallardo 14, Espinosa 11, Tengco 9, Peredo 6.
Scoring by quarters: 19-9, 41-29, 53-63, 80-77.

Second Game
Batang Bear Brand 90 — Spott 34, Gamboa 29, Che 9, Esdrelon 5, Ariar 4, Lansang 4.
Black Mamba 68 — Lansang 11, Lauron 10, Ibanez 9, Odicta 8, Salazar 6, Capalad 5, Gabaldon 5.
Scoring by quarters: 20-18, 47-26, 69-46, 90-68.