Fire Dawgs upset DCCA, Labor wins

Airport Rescue Fire Fighting Fire Dawgs brought down pacesetter Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, while Department of Labor routed Procurement and Supply in the continuation of the 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Fire Dawgs featured an improbable hero in the person of swingman Charlie Sablan, who finally had his long shot working and buried three crucial 3-pointers in the game’s final 10 minutes to help ARFF upset fancied DCCA, 93-90, in the nightcap.

ARFF center Jawn Joyner and DCCA guard Elias Rangamar were locked up in a scoring battle early, with both players tossing in 13 points, but Joyner had more support and the Fire Dawgs took a 23-21 lead after the first quarter.

DCCA, however, would take control of the ballgame beginning in the second quarter.

With Rangamar adding another 12 and big man Romeo Ignoef muscling his way inside for 11 points, the team took the lead and entered halftime enjoying a 51-42 spread.

But the third quarter was an altogether different story. ARFF shooter Jerome Reyes finally found his stroke, exploding for 14 points to lead the Fire Dawgs back in the match and were down by just four points, 64-68, heading into the fourth and final quarter.

It was nip and tuck in the payoff period, but the Fire Dawgs finally got over the hump as DCCA players repeatedly left Sablan open from rainbow territory. He hit one in the opening minutes of the fourth and added two more to highlight a quarter in which ARFF outscored DCCA 30-23 to give Fire Dawgs their sixth win in 10 games.

The loss, meanwhile, knocked DCCA from the top of the heap with a record of 7-2.

Reyes and Joyner led ARFF with 33 and 25 points, respectively. DCCA was paced by the 36 markers of Rangamar and 31 of Iginoef.

In the opener, DOL drew big games from brothers Steve and Ponce Rasa and rugged center Tim Wesley to pull off a convincing 109-77 victory over P&S.

Steve Rasa had another strong game for the 6-2 Labor team finishing with 36 points, while Wesley and Ponce Rasa added 25 and 22 markers, respectively. League leading scorer Edgar Pangelinan fired 26 points in the loss, P&S’ 10th in 11 games.

First Game

DOL 109 – S. Rasa 36, Wesley 25, P. Rasa 22, Fujihara 10, Aaron 5, Peter 4, Poquiz 3, Mostales 3, Ayuyu 2.

P&S 77 – E. Pangelinan 26, Takai 16, Tudela 12, Guerrero 11, Castro 6, G. Pangelinan 4, Palacios 2.

Scoring by quarters: 31-19, 52-44, 80-55, 109-77.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Eric Artillaga.

Second Game

ARFF 93 – Reyes 33, Joyner 25, Torres 3, Sablan 11, Diaz 4, Camacho 4, Mizutani 3.

DCCA 90 – Rangamar 36, Iginoef 31, Dela Cruz 16, Pangelinan 7.

Scoring by quarters: 23-21, 42-51, 64-68, 93-90.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.