DPS, No Zone advance to govt semis

Defending champion No Zone and the Department of Public Safety Enforcers advanced to the semifinals of the 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League with impressive victories Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the opener, the Enforcers overcame a 14-point first quarter deficit and defeated Public School System, 100-86, to get past the first round of the playoffs.

PSS came out like a house on fire as the team combined for 29 points. Taj Van Buren and Peter Mendiola pumped in eight points apiece, while the rest of team pulled together in defense to limit DPS to just 15 points.

The Enforcers came back with a stronger attack in the second quarter as forward Peter Camacho and guard Jake Celes fueled a 26-18 run with nine and eight points that brought DPS to within six points, 41-47, at the break.

It got better for DPS and worse for PSS as the second half progressed, and the big reason was that the Enforcers went on a scoring spree. Camacho punched in another 14 points, Ben Pelisamen and Celes combined for 12 points, and DPS outscored PSS 33-20 to take control of the bout, 74-67, heading into the final period.

It wasn’t easy, but the Enforcers were able to close the game on a strong note and will now face No. 2 Department of Labor in the semis tonight.

Camacho and Oscar Sablan played consistently throughout the bout and led the Enforcers with 27 and 22 points, while Celes and Pelisamen added 13 and 11 points. Elias Saralu also had 10 points.

Mendiola and Van Buren paced PSS with 21 and 18 points, while Jerry Diaz and Gary Lashley contributed 15 and 13 points.

In the second game, No Zone survived a tough Department of Community and Cultural Affairs crew, 95-92, to advance to play pennant champion Tinian in the semis.

No Zone broke out to a 9-2 lead to open the game, but DCCA fought back and clawed to within a point, 22-23, at the end of the first period.

DCCA was able to taste the lead in the second quarter and went on a 9-0 run mid-way for a 38-31 advantage. DCCA extended its lead to 13 points, 48-35, with under three minutes left in the first half, but No Zone closed the half with a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to six points, 42-48, at the break.

No Zone continued to work closer in the third, and John Sablan stepped up to hit seven markers in the closing minutes of the quarter to put No Zone within a bucket, 69-71, with the final stanza remaining to be played.

No Zone regained the lead at the start of the fourth on a triple by Jess Stole, and after Romeo Iginoef put DCCA up 73-72, Sablan nailed consecutive baskets that gave No Zone a 77-73 cushion with a little over eight minutes remaining.

DCCA just would not quit though, as veteran Elias Rangamar penetrated for consecutive baskets. No Zone held their ground and at one point, led by six points, 88-82, when Stole hit another triple with 5:05 on the clock, but DCCA kept close and pulled to within three, 88-91, with 1:36 left on baskets by Rangamar.

Rangamar was then whistled for his fifth foul and exited the bout, but DCCA was far from giving up and moved to within one point, 92-93, with 55.5 seconds left on a bucket by veteran Tony Rogolifoi.

Ed Diaz then hit two free throws for No Zone and DCCA missed on a buzzer-beating attempt for the final score.

Sablan and Diaz led No Zone with 36 and 19 points, while Ned Norita and Stole finished with 18 and 13 points.

Rangamar and Iginoef scored 26 and 25 for DCCA, while Joey Dela Cruz and Rogolifoi pumped in 15 and 12 points.

First Game

DPS 100 – Camacho 27, Sablan 22, Celes 13, Pelisamen 11, Saralu 10, Ito 7, Kaipat 6, Warfield 2, Manglona 2.

PSS 86 – Mendiola 21, Van Buren 18, Diaz 15, Lashley13, Garon 9, Villagomez 6, Mendez 4.

Scoring by quarters: 15-29, 41-47, 74-67, 100-86.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pacheco.

Second Game

No Zone 95 – Jo. Sablan 36, E. Diaz 19, Norita 18, Stole 13, Palacios 4, Hocog 2, J. Diaz 2, Manalili 1.

DCCA 92 – Rangamar 26, Iginoef 25, Dela Cruz 15, Rogolifoi 12, Reyes 7, Pua 5, Tenorio 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-22, 42-48, 69-71, 95-92.

Referees: Jess Pabula and Noel Delos Santos.