Crystal Pure, Mobil secure playoff seats

  Crystal Pure and Mobil clinched playoff berths in the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity Basketball Invitational Friendship League after prevailing over separate foes last Friday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Mobil slipped past SCS Heavy Equipment Rental in the first game, 85-74, to improve to a 4-2 record and take one of the eighth playoff slots. SCS dropped to a 3-5 record, absorbing its fifth straight loss and must win its last game to keep its playoff chances.

SCS had an opportunity to break its losing skid when it led Mobil, 59-56, after the third period, but the latter had a big fourth quarter to steal the victory. Mobil outgunned SCS in the final canto, 29-15, with Jun Estolas and Gyles Ruluked combining for 17 of their total points in the payoff period and Angelo Fernando adding seven.

Estolas finished with a game-high 28 points, while Ruluked and Fernando added 20 and 12, respectively for Mobil, which now joins Sunrisers (7-2), defending champion Blue Haus (6-1), Mobil (4-2), QQ Rent A Car (5-4), and Crystal Pure (4-4) in the single-elimination playoffs.

Crystal Pure 65, Hite Beer 52

Crystal Pure secured a spot in the next round after beating Hite Beer in a make-up game and improved to an even 4-4 card.

Hite Beer fell to a 3-6 record with no game left in the regular season and must wait for the results of the remaining matches this week to determine its fate in the league. Hite Beer will fight for the last three playoff berths against Shirley’s Coffee Shop (3-4), SCS (3-5) and Andhok’s Grille (3-5). Only Smart Cagers/Ali’i is eliminated in the 10-team field with its 2-7 card.

With still four teams vying for three playoff tickets, there could be a triple or two-way tie for the No. 8 spot and organizers said that for two-way deadlock, the winner-over-the-other rule will be implemented. For the three-way tie, the team with the highest points (in quotient system) will advance to the next round.

Crystal Pure avoided any complication going into the playoffs when it defeated Hite in a make-up game first played on Feb. 13. Crystal Pure led the rained-out match at halftime, 28-25, and picked up where it left off for its fourth win.

The Kae Bernardo-led Crystal Pure stretched its three-point first half lead to six after the third, 40-34, and then played harder in the fourth period en route to a double-digit win.

Crystal Pure opened the fourth with back-to-back triples from Mike Cruz and J.R. Darag, while Bernardo and Rex Yabut put on the finishing touches with their two-point baskets and free throws. Bernardo top-scored for Crystal Pure with 18, while Yabut and Cruz chipped in 14 and 10, respectively.

Hite had only Ben Lisua cracking double figures with 10. Alex Lauron had 9, while Ivan Devero tallied eight, but missed the resumption of the match.

First Game

Mobil 85 – Estolas 28, Ruluked 20, Fernando 12, Bicera 9, Galzote 6, Moises 5, Reyes 2, Dayrit 2, Mallari 1.

SCS 74 – Tamayo 26, Manalo 11, Aquino 10, Galarse 9, Ritual 6, Mina 5, Pantaleon 2, Guiang 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-16, 38-38, 56-59, 85-75.

Second Game

Crystal Pure 63 – Bernardo 18, Yabut 14, Cruz 10, Miranda 9, Usi 4, Cagad 3, Lerio 2.

Hite Beer/Blue Haus 52 – Lisua 10, Lauron 9, Devero 8, Z. Babauta 8, Diaz 6, R. Babauta 6, Johanes 2, Palacios 1.

Scoring by quarters: 15-15, 28-25, 40-34, 65-52.