Athlete’s Foot secures playoff berth

Athlete’s Foot sealed the seventh playoff spot in the 2009 Navy Hill Friendship Basketball League after pulling off a come-from-behind win over Rollers Basketball Club, 87-83, Tuesday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Athlete’s Foot ended the regular season of the 12-team league with a 6-5 record, allowing the team to join Dollar Days, Docomo, Rollers, KFC/Taco Bell, MBI, and Inchcape in the playoffs. With Athlete’s Foot stunning the Rollers, Uncle Ben (5-6) and IT&E (4-6) are now left to battle for the last playoff seat.

The Rollers controlled the game most of the way before Athlete’s Foot made a move in the fourth quarter.

Behind by a hair at the end of the third period, 63-64, Athlete’s Foot’s outscored the Rollers in the payoff canto, 24-17, with Chris De Vero firing 11 points in the final quarter.

De Vero finished with a game-high 30 points. He and Nate Mateo started Athlete’s Foot’s comeback in the second half. The duo combined for 19 of Athlete’s Foot’s 27 points in the third quarter to move their team within one after trailing by seven at halftime, 36-43.

Mateo tallied 25 markers, while George Masga also finished in double figures with 10 points.

Manny Matagolai scored 18 points for the Rollers, who capped their regular season campaign with an 8-3 record for third place in the team standings.

In the first game, Inchcape edged Docomo, 82-75, to improve to a 6-3 slate and tie MBI in fifth place.

Inchape drew double figures from five players with Peter Mendiola leading the way with 21 points. Sonny Ranola chipped in 16, Manuel Ajoste and Amor Casabuena contributed 15 apiece, and Francis Rebuyon added 11.

Mendiola had seven first-quarter points, while Ranola and Rebuyon had five each, as Inchcape took a 25-12 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Docomo made little headway in the second quarter behind Clifford Hamor’s 11 points and Ryan Sanciangco’s six markers to move within eight at halftime, 34-42. But Inchcape broke the game wide open in the third period increasing the lead to 24, 74-50. Casabuena, Mendiola, and Ranola joined forces in the third-quarter breakaway combining for 28 of Inchcape’ 32 points.

Docomo tried to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter, but fell short, dropping the team to an 8-2 record and keeping them in second place behind league-leader Dollar Days (10-1).
[B] First Game

Inchcape 82[/B] – Mendiola 21, Ranola 16, Casabuena 15, Ajoste 15, Rebuyon 11, Garcia 3, Olivos 2.
[B] Docomo 75[/B] – R. Sanciangco 31, Hamoy 15, Miranda 10, Rasa 10, Chan 4, Tengco 2, Cultura 1.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 25-12, 42-34, 74-50, 82-75.
[B] Second Game

Athlete’s Foot 87[/B] – De Vero 30, Mateo 25, Masga 10, Sablan 8, Fernandez 5, David 3.
[B] Rollers 83[/B] – Matagolai 18, Santos 15, Iguel 14, Tudela 11, Reyes 9, J. Camacho 8, A. Camacho 4, P. Camacho 2, Ulloa 2.