Previous Story
C&R/NRG regains form, tops Aon
|
Posted on Nov 13 2008
C&R/NRG ended its two-game losing skid, outclassing Aon Insurance at the continuation of their rain-suspended game, 103-98, in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League Wednesday night at the CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan.
The C&R-Aon tiff was first played on Nov. 6, but the game was called off due to rain after the first quarter with the latter ahead by only a point, 25-24.
When the match resumed, C&R managed to seize control of the game in the third quarter leading by as much as 10 points, 78-68, before Aon tried to recover in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter and fell short.
A triple from Jolan Mendoza tied the game for the last time, 86-all, with less than five minutes left in the game.
But C&R launched a 10-1 bomb with Jericho Cruz making two layups, James Villacrus canning a triple, and Mel Capalad completing a 3-point play.
Just when C&R was breaking the game wide open, Aon made another comeback attempt behind the baskets of Rodney Catalla, Mendoza, and Leo Factor to cut the lead to five, 100-95, with less than 40 seconds left on the clock.
After Mendoza’s triple, C&R inbounded the ball despite Aon’s pressure defense at the backcourt, the former was able to bring the ball to the frontcourt. Cruz received the pass, threw the ball to Jun Estolas, who saw Villacrusis running toward the left baseline. Villacrusis stopped, received the ball and connected on a short jumper.
Aon failed to score in the ensuing play, while Badong Camacho spit his charities to peg the final score.
C&R finished the regular season with a 3-3 record, tying Aon Insurance and Diamond Auto Care. But C&R won the tiebreak and will be ranked third behind Century Insurance (5-1) and MIGS (5-1) going into the playoffs.
C&R had three players scoring 20-point plus points with Cruz leading the way with 26 points. Estolas and Villacrusis chipped in 23 and 22 markers, respectively.
Mendoza paced Aon with 26 points, making five triples.
[B]
C&R/NRG 103[/B]—Cruz 26, Estolas 23, Villacrusis 22, Artates 13, Camacho 11, Capalad 5, Dayrit 2.
[B]
Aon Insurance 98[/B]—Mendoza 26, Factor 22, Lim 16, Catalla 13, Apelo 10, Eclevia 8, Abuy 3.
[B]
Scoring by quarters:[/B] 24-25, 50-48, 82-74, 103-98.
