Sunrisers edge Mobil in DLX/Miller Lite caging

  The Sunrisers kept their perfect record after outclassing Mobil, 80-77, during the curtain-raiser in the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity/Miller Lite Basketball Invitational Friendship League last Friday night at the Gualo Rai Basketbal Court.

Pending the completion of its rained-out game against Blue Haus, the Sunrisers are 4-0 and hold the lead in the 10-team field, while Mobil, which had two rained-out matches, fell to a 1-1 card.

The Sunrisers rose to an early double-digit lead, 31-19, but Mobil slowly recovered and even took the lead in the fourth quarter before Josh Sablan saved the frontrunners in the final canto. Sablan knocked in 10 of his 13 markers in the fourth period, which started with the Sunrisers only ahead by a hair, 60-59.

Pete Lizama also hit important shots in the payoff canto, nailing five of his 19 markers, while Preston Basa led all scorers with his 20.

Basa anchored the Sunrisers’ strong start, drilling 11 in the opening quarter for their 12-point lead. The Sunrisers had control of the match early after holding Mobil gunner Jun Estolas scoreless in the first quarter.

Then in the second period, Ernie Moises started the quarter with back-to-back triples, while Estolas’ shots began to fall, allowing Mobil to move within four at the break, 39-43.

Mobil continued working its way back into the game, cutting the lead to one after the third period, 59-60, and it even led by as much as seven early in the fourth off Moises and Angelo Fernando’s straight baskets before Sablan bailed out the Sunrisers. Sablan drained eight of the Sunrisers’ first 11 points in the fourth.

Hite Beer 75, QQ Rent A Car 72

In the hotly contested second game, Hite Beer/Blue Haus survived QQ Rent A Car, 75-72.

The match that was marked by a near bench-clearing brawl was decided from the free throw line with Hite Beer canning three charities, two coming from big man Zack Diaz. Ivan Devero, who led the team’s victory with his 19 markers, converted the other charity.

Hite Beer and QQ Rent A Car played the last three minutes of the game with only five players from each squad allowed at the court and league officials threw out the rest of the players after moving out of the bench and almost exchanging in a fight after several rough plays and second motion from both camps.

The heated and closely fought match started with QQ on top by only one, 14-13, and then the lead shifted to Hite Beer at the break, 34-33. Hite Beer kept the lead after the third, 51-49, off Dan Mateo’s late triple and the nip-and-tuck tussle continued in the fourth with the eventual winning team having the slight edge as it had frequent trips to the foul line. Hite converted nine charities in the fourth against QQ’s three.

First Game

Sunrisers 80 – Basa 20, Lizama 19, Joyner 15, Jos. Sablan 13, Manibusan 6, J. Quitugua 6.

Mobil Smiles 77 – Estolas 16, Moises 13, Ruluked 13, Bicera 12, Demapan 11, Fernando 10, Reyes 2.

Scoring by quarters: 31-19, 43-39, 60-59, 90-77.

Second Game

Hite Beer/Blue Haus 75 – Devero 19, Tenorio 17, Lauron 13, Diaz 7, Lisua 5, Cabrera 4, R. Babauta 3, Palacios 3, Z. Babauta 2.

QQ Rent A Car 72 – Pagarao 25, Mangali 12, Mateo 10, Camacho 9, Abuel 6, Paraiso 5, Sison 2, Cruz 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-14, 34-33, 51-49, 75-72.