Batang Bear Brand gets top seeding

Batang Bear Brand’s Elmer Esdrelon takes off for an open layup during their elimination round game against Vendetta in the IT&E-sponsored Ali’i Blue Haus caging at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. Batang Bear Brand and Vendetta collided anew last night at the start of the playoffs. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Batting Bear Brand outclassed the Silencer, 89-80, during the curtain-raiser in the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium to gain the top seeding in the playoffs.

Batang Bear Brand finished the elimination with an 8-3 record, the same mark that the Silencer held but the former won the tiebreak for first place in the team standing due to the win-over-the-other rule. The top-ranked Batang Bear Brand was scheduled to duel last qualifier Vendetta at the start of the playoff round last night, while the Silencer also saw action yesterday and dueled No. 7 Spigen. Results of both matches were unavailable at press time.

Big man Hal Spott had another 20-point plus performance to lead Batang Bear Brand’s eighth win. He tallied 22 markers, making 6 of them in the final quarter as he teamed up with Elmer Esdrelon in helping Batang Bear Brand foil the Silencer’s comeback bid. Esdrelon and Ron Gamboa provided enough support to Spott after combining for 31 markers.

Mico Usi registered 19 point on a losing effort for the Silencer, which played without its main gunner Angelo Fernando. The Silencer also missed the production of Kelvin Fitial, who was held to three field goals and 6 points.

Meanwhile, Team Sawi stunned No. 3 seed Black Mamba, 79-66, in the final game in the regular season last Sunday.

With the victory, Team Sawi wrapped up the elimination round with a 6-5 record, taking the No. 6 seeding and earning a playoff date against the same team it defeated in it last game. Black Mamba ended the elims with a 7-4 record and prevailed in the tiebreak against Tropang Ridhors due to the win-over-the-other rule.

Brendon Talania, J.R. Concepcion, and Ehroll Peredo totaled more than half of Team Sawi’s output for their baker dozen winning margin. Talania registered 21 points, while Concepcion and Peredo contributed 18 and 16 markers, respectively.

Saturday Game
Batang Bear Brand 89 — Spott 22, Gamboa 19, Esdrelon 12, Che 14, Achas 7, Ariar 7, Devero 3.
Silencer 80 — Usi 19, Morales 17, Estores 10, Culala 9, Fitial 6, Arreza 5, Zapata 2.
Scoring by quarters: 18-16, 39-35, 65-58, 89-80.

Sunday Game
Team Sawi 79 — Talania 21, Concepcion 18, Peredo 16, Maglaqui 14, Galulu 6, Buenabajo 4.
Black Mamba 66 — Capalad 19, Lauron 18, Salazar 8, Ibanez 6, Lansang 5, Gabaldon 4, Echavez 2, Odicta 2.
Scoring by quarters: 18-20, 39-31, 58-48, 79-66.