Docomo, Pelicans survive first round

Docomo Pacific kept its title defense hopes alive after outlasting Maplas in overtime, 107-99, at the start of the playoff round in the 2014 DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League last Sunday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Maplas lost momentum after a power outage in the second quarter, committed passing errors in the closing seconds of the regulation, and was held to one field goal in the first three minutes of the extension period, allowing Docomo to pull off the win. Docomo is now in the quarterfinals and faces Island Manpower tonight, while Maplas was eliminated.
Maplas was threatening to break away leading at 44-35, when the power at the gym went off. The game resumed after about 20 minutes and the lull helped Docomo to regroup and by the end of the first half, the defending champions managed to grab the lead, 51-50.

Three Docomo Pacific players challenge the shot of Maplas’ Angelo Fernando during their game in the DL Corp. caging last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

It was a seesaw battle from thereon with Docomo failing to win the match in regulation after missing two triples, committing one error, and making only one free throw. Marlon Sison nailed the split that tied the match at 92-all, with 1:10 left and Maplas also failed to break the deadlock with Rolly Paraiso throwing three wide baseball passes. Maplas attempted the last shot in regulation, but Edmark Mendoza’s finger roll did not have enough spin and rattled off to the left side of the rim as time expired, sending the match into overtime.

In the extension, Maplas went on a 7-0 tear and never looked back. Jason Hayes came off the bench, relieving the winded Tony Diaz and opened Docomo’s scoring with a baseline triple to beat the 24-second shot clock. James Villacrusis added two free throws, while Juan Camacho nailed an undergoal stab for a 99-92 lead, going into the last two minutes of the match.

Maplas moved within 4 off a 7-4 exchange and had a chance to move closer, but committed another errant pass, while Bruce Berline sealed it for Docomo with his back-to-back baskets.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans also advanced to the quarterfinals against TBK after defeating Puerto Rico Bento, 109-93.
The Pelicans went all out in the second half after falling behind at the break to march into the next round. Behind at 48-54, the Pelicans unloaded 34 big points in the third period to turn the tables on Puerto Rico, 81-75. The Pelicans kept going in the fourth canto for the double-digit winning margin.

First Game

Pelicans 109 – Ogumoro 19, Santos 19, Brennan 16, Reyes 11, Camacho 10, B. Lizama 10, Babauta 8, Yamada 3, Namelo 3.

Puerto Rico 93 – Fitial 33, Saplan 25, Sacramento 15, Salalila 11, Towun 7, Ito 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-30, 48-54, 82-75, 109-93.

Second Game

Docomo 107 – Villacrusis 23, Sison 21, Camacho 16, Diaz 15, Hayes 11, Berline 10, Sanciangco 4, Tudela 2.

Maplas 99 – R. Usi 28, Mendoza 20, Fernando 16, Paraiso 15, Odicta 8, M. Usi 7, Aniciete 2, Rivera 1.

Scoring by quarters: 25-25, 51-50, 69-69, 92-92, 107-99 (OT).