Ali’i back in the finals of DLX caging

Ali’i’s Kobe Mendoza goes up for a running jumper against Flip Top’s Mike Arciaga, left, and Ronnel Gamboa during the third quarter of their game in the semis round of the DLX caging last Saturday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Nate Mateo engineered a fourth-quarter comeback, scoring 13 points, including the equalizer, while Ivan Devero and Errol Peredo delivered the telling blows to give Ali’i the second and last finals berth. Ali’i, which won the previous competition against I Love Saipan, 74-65, will defend its championship against Ghasias Brothers later this week. Ghasias, which won the continuation of its rained-out match over Flip Top last Friday, 98-91, took the first finals ticket after sweeping the round-robin elimination and gaining a perfect 3-0 record, while Ali’I ended up with a 2-1 slate after eliminating Flip Top.

It was a sorry loss for Flip Top, as it wasted an early 12-point lead (28-16) and failed to hang on to an 8-point cushion in the opening minutes of the final canto (65-57), while Mateo anchored Ali’s recovery.

Mateo’s sixth basket in the fourth, which matched the entire field goal of Flip Top, tied the game for the last time 75-all, going into the last 1:45 of the match. Mike Arciaga, who has been making most of his shots in the first three periods, attempted a drive to regain the lead for Flip Top, but this time missed, while Devero also faltered on his jumper on the other end with Ali’i’s 24-second shot clock ticking, keeping the standoff.

Devero then redeemed himself and broke the deadlock when he went coast to coast for a layup after a big defensive stop on a driving Jun Estolas in Flip Top’s next possession, under the one-minute mark.

Now down by 2, 75-77, Flip Top had five successive possessions, but failed to cash in to force another tie. Mel Capalad lost the ball on his way to the basket, but fortunately the leather hit an Ali’i player before it went to the baseline. In their second possession, Estolas drove to the basket from the right wing and tried to get a foul from his defender. He did, but the referee ruled out Estolas was still down the floor when the infraction was committed. The foul was only Ali’i’s third, giving the team two more before Flip Top could troop to the stripe. Ali’i used another foul in the next play and again Estolas argued it should have been a shooting foul, but the referee saw otherwise.

Finally, in its fourth straight possession, Flip Top managed to pull up for a shot when Jun Estolas went for a drive and draw move and fed Directo Estolas on the left wing. However, Directo muffed the point-blanked shot and also faltered on his putback.

After the missed chances, Flip Top was left with no choice, but to foul Ali’i to stop the clock, which read at six seconds. Badong Camacho stepped on the foul line, but missed both charities. However, Ali’i returned to the stripe, as Raymond Velasco battled Fidelino in the rebound play and tapped the ball out to Errol Peredo, who was fouled right away by a Flip Top defender. Peredo this time hit the clutch free throws to seal it for Ali’i with three seconds remaining in the game. Flip Top made the last attempt in the close match with Fidelino missing a corner triple.

Peredo top-scored for Ali’i with his 18 points, while Mateo chipped in 17.

Arciaga led Flip Top with his 29 points, while Ronnel Gamboa added 12, but had only 2 points in the fourth canto, as cramps slowed him down in the payoff period.

Ali’i 79 – Peredo 18, Mateo 17, Camacho 15, Devero 12, Mendoza 11, De Leon 3, Velasco 1.

Flip Top 75 – Arciaga 29, Gamboa 12, Fidelino 10, J. Estolas 10, Capalad 4, D. Estolas 4.

Scoring by quarters: 16-28, 37-42, 57-63, 79-75.