San Roque, ICS Shooters oust opponents

San Roque and ICS Shooters advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2014 DLX/IT&E Invitational Basketball League after eliminating their respective playoff foes last Saturday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

San Roque and Pogi Problems players get tangled as they battle for the loose ball during the third quarter of their playoff game in the DLX/IT&E caging last Saturday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Pogi Problems failed to survive the first round of the playoffs, as it could not sustain its momentum in the second half after leading by as much as 11, 33-22, early in the second period. Pogi Problems played with only six players, but with Sonny Lerio hitting consecutive triples in the second canto, the depleted team stunned San Roque with a double-digit spread. Lerio knocked in four treys in the second canto and scored 14 straight markers in the five-minute stretch.

Lerio’s fourth triple in the second frame also served as Pogi Problems’ last field goal in that quarter, while San Roque went on a 9-2 windup to move within 6 at the break, 32-38. San Roque then opened the third canto with three straight triples off Angelo Fernando’s shot from the left key and Jaymark Mendoza’s back-to-back shots from the right corner to grab the lead, 41-38.

San Roque went on to keep the upper hand at the end of the third, 58-54, as Pogi Problems started running out of offensive options with Lerio and John Jugos faltering on their outside shots. With Pogi Problems shooters misfiring and San Roque finally getting its act together, it was the latter’s turn to take a double-digit lead. San Roque led by as much as 16, 77-61, and the game was already decided midway in the fourth canto with Pogi Problems either turning the ball over or muffing one shot after another.

In the first game, ICS stole the win from JP World, which led at the end of each of the first three quarters before collapsing in the payoff canto.

JP World, which was hanging on to a precarious 54-53 lead after the third period, made only four field goals in the fourth frame. ICS Shooters only outgunned JP World by two in the field goal department, but the former earned a living from the free throw line to secure the win. ICS Shooters gained eight points from the stripe, including the last five that sealed the victory.

Lerio Galarse led ICS Shooters with 17 points, seven of them came in the pivotal fourth. He also drilled four charities in the fourth, while Cecilio Bisana added three free throws and also tallied seven points in that frame.

With the victory, ICS forced a quarterfinal showdown against Group A top finisher Ali’i. They collide tonight in the second game at 8pm, while San Roque takes on Group B first placer Gwap Gang in the curtain raiser at 6:30pm

First Game
ICS Shooters 74 – Galarse 17, Inos 14, Brennan 12, Bisana 8, Chariton 8, Ong 7, Namelo 4, Babauta 3.
JP World 65 – Manalo 32, Paraiso 11, J. Camacho 9, Jose 5, De Leon 2, D. Camacho 2, Torres 2.
Scoring by quarters: 19-21, 37-38, 53-54, 74-65.

Second Game
San Roque 88 – De Guzman 31, Mendoza 15, Barrios 14, Fernando 12, Guiang 4, Gunacao 4, Odicta 2.
Pogi Problems 79 – Lerio 36, Hernaez 18, Tagle 9, Jugos 9, Madreo 4.
Scoring by quarters: 12-18, 32-38, 58-54, 88-79.