Estolas lifts NRG past Reliance

Jun Estolas showed the brilliance that earned him several individual awards and championships in past tournaments during their do-or-die playoff game against Reliance Construction in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League Saturday at the CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan unplayable.

Estolas nailed a coast-to-coast basket in regulation and an almost off-balanced shot in the last three seconds of the overtime period lo lift C&R Distributor/NRG to a thrilling 117-116 win over Reliance.

Estolas’s game-winning basket came after he missed one of his free throws in the previous play. Had he made the first one, NRG could have tied the game at 116-all.

Estolas second free throw went in cutting Reliance lead to one, 116-115, with 32 seconds left in the game. C&R then played good defense forcing Peter Mendiola to take a triple from the top of the key with the 24-second shot clock wining down. Mendiola had an airball and the possession returned to NRG when Nate Mateo failed to save the ball from going out of the baseline after Mendiola’s miss.

With eight seconds left on the clock, NRG coach Marvin Deocares called a time out.

It was evident that Estolas will be taking the shot for NRG, as he moved too close to James Villacrusis, who inbounded the ball from the midcourt in front of the scorers’ table.

At first, Mateo and Bernard Montano stuck to Estolas, but when Estolas got the ball, Montano moved out of the way allowing the former to escape past Mateo and drive to the middle. Mendiola was the last line of defense for Reliance, but the bulky forward failed to stop Estolas, who bumped into his defender, nearly lost his balance, but was able to pull up for a side shot and made the basket.

With no time out left and with only three seconds remaining on the clock, Reliance’s Ivan De Vero inbounded the ball and pitched it to Montano, who lost the possession as he went up for a jumper from the right wing against Errol Peredo.

Estolas sent the game in overtime after driving to the middle and making a banked shot against the outstretched arms of Edmark Mendoza in the last six seconds of the regulation.

The lost ousted Reliance from the tournament, while the win moved NRG to the next round along with MIGS and Diamond Auto Care.

The three teams joined pennant champion Century Insurance in the next round of the playoffs, which have a double-elimination format.

Century will face NRG in the second game in the second round of the playoffs tonight, while Diamond and MIGS will collide in the first match. First game will start at 6:30pm.

MIGS advanced to the next round after an easy 95-82 win over San Miguel Light Wednesday, while Sonny Ranola’s 49 points lifted Diamond over Aon Insurance, 116-84, Saturday night.
[B] Saturday’s Games

Diamond 116[/B]—Ranola 49, Esdrelon 19, Cosino 17, Fernandez 19, Guiab 10, Tamondong 5, Talania 4.
[B] Aon 84[/B]—Catalla 22, Apelo 15, De Dios 15, Factor 12, Abuy 9, Pantola 4, De Guzman 3, Santos 2, Sumira 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 27-17, 52-42, 85-61, 116-84.

[B]NRG 117[/B]—Estolas 33, Cruz 28, Peredo 25, Villacrusis 12, Villarin 8, Capalad 6, Artates 2, Camacho 2.
[B] Reliance 116[/B]—Mendoza 32, Mendiola 24, Arreza 19, De Vero 15, Mateo 11, Montano 10, Mercurio 7, Umali 3.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 28-22, 48-46, 82-77, 103-all, 117-116

[B]Wednesday’s Game

MIGS 95[/B]—Bernardo 38, Cadagat 26, Lerio 113, Demapan 6, Basila 6, Capalad 3, Diyco 3.

[B]San Miguel 82[/B]—Sanciangco 24, Itaas 16, Lauron 10, Abenoja 8, Garon 8, Reyes 7, Lansang 5, Ritual 4.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 27-33, 49-39, 67-65, 95-82