San Antonio nears regular season sweep

San Antonio needed two overtime periods to thwart Shocker Nation, 94-89, in the second game of the 2014 DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

With the close victory, San Antonio remained unbeaten in seven games and moved a win away from sweeping the round-robin regular season. The league-leading team is also assured of one of the automatic semis berths in the nine-squad field, while Shocker Nation dropped to a 5-2 record for third place and must win its last match to have a chance for the second outright semis ticket.

Shocker Nation missed an opportunity to hand San Antonio its first win and move closer to the semifinals when Kevin De Leon muffed the go-ahead free throw in the last two seconds of the first extension period. Deleon was fouled by Prince Factor in the closing seconds of the first overtime, but made only his first free throw for the 84-84 count.

In the second overtime, Shocker Nation hit no field goals and was limited to five free throws, while San Antonio canned three 2-point baskets and finally took the win after connecting three charities, two of them came from Kobe Mendoza.

Mendoza went on to top-score for San Antonio with 22 points, while Darwin Barbo and Emerson Feria also finished in twin digits with 19 and 10, respectively. Bart Demapan led Shocker Nation with 26. Mike Saturno added 13, while Lester Vertudez chipped in 12, including the last three markers that sent the game into the first overtime.

San Antonio took control of the match in the first half, leading 47-38 at halftime, but Shocker Nation began to regroup in the third period to stay in the game. A 24-13 scoring in the third put Shocker Nation on top, 62-60, entering the final canto. Melvin Cadiang anchored the recovery scoring 7 of his 10 points in the third.

It was a seesaw battle from thereon with Barbo and Mendoza countering Shocker Nation’s attack to foil the upset bid.

Meanwhile, Olivos was awarded a win via forfeiture against TBK Mechanic to gain its first victory in six games and keep its playoffs hopes alive. Only one team will be eliminated with the No. 1 and 2 advancing to the semis. No. 3 and 4 to the quarterfinals, and the No. 5 to 8 squads duking it out into the first round of the playoffs.

San Antonio 94 – Mendoza 22, Barbo 19, Feria 10, Alegre 9, Factor 9, De Guzman 6, Fidelino 6, Arciaga 4, Espinosa 2.

Shocker Nation 89 – Demapan 26, Saturno 13, Vertudez 12, Cadiang 10, Deleon Guerrero 9, Villanueva 6, Dela Cruz 4, De Leon 1.

Scoring by quarters: 21-19, 47-38, 60-62, 74-74, 84-84 (1st OT), 94-89 (2nd OT).