Back-to-back for Blue Haus

 Blue Haus showed poise in the closing minutes of the one-game finals in the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity Basketball Invitational Friendship/Miller Lite League to thwart QQ Rent A Car, 76-69, and win back-to-back championships last Saturday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Badong Camacho threw the early punches for Blue Haus, while another big man, Junar Guiab, delivered the killer blows in the end for the team’s successful title defense. The fourth-ranked QQ Rent A Car fell short in its upset bid after having key players in early foul troubles and taking hurried shots in the homestretch.

Lerio Pagarao took one of those untimely attempts when he rushed to the basket against two Blue Haus defenders and faltered. Before Pagarao’s miss, the two-time champion opened a four-point lead, 70-66, off Elmer Esdrelon’s undergoal stab and Guiab’s two free throws with less than three minute left in the game. However, QQ was back in the game quickly after Elgene Mangali’s triple and it had a chance to grab the lead after forcing Blue Haus to a 24-second shot clock violation, 1:52 left in the match.

Guiab added two more charities, as he was fouled in the backcourt after Pagarao’s failed drive, giving Blue Haus cushion, 72-69.

QQ had one timeout left, but did not use it in the ensuing play and instead Wowie Abuel pulled up for a triple and missed, too. Guiab grabbed the rebound and then threw an outlet pass to Esdrelon, who then drilled a baseline jumper, upping Blue Haus’ lead to five, 74-69.

With still about a minute left, Blue Haus needed only a quick two to stay in the game, however Mangali gambled on a triple from the top key and lost. Blue Haus took the rebound anew and melted the clock before Guiab drove to the basket and made the insurance, less than 30 seconds remaining in the game.

Guiab, who had only two points after the first three quarters, ended up as Blue Haus’ third best scorer in the finale with his eight markers. Camacho top-scored for the back-to-back champion with his 21 markers, while Esdrelon and Brendon Talania chipped in 18 and 12, respectively.

Camacho started the game with a baseline jumper and finished with seven in the opening canto. He went on to dominate the paint all throughout the game, getting three and-1 plays and causing troubles to QQ’s frontliners, including Cruz, who was whistled with three fouls in the first period.

Mangali, who still finished with a game-high 23 points, was also saddled by fouls early when he committed two in the first period that ended with QQ on top by two, 17-15. The QQ gunner was forced to stay in the bench in the first half of the second period and Blue Haus capitalized on his absence, as the defending champion threatened to pull away, 35-24. Talania led the breakaway, making seven points in Blue Haus’ 20-7 scoring in the first six minutes of the second canto. Blue Haus moved the ball well early in the second frame to open an 11-point advantage.

However, Blue Haus failed to keep the double-digit lead, as Mangali returned and he and Pagarao brought QQ back in the game after the first half, 35-40.

The second half was a neck-and-neck game and by the end of the third period, Blue Haus and QQ was back to square one, 57-all, after Dan Mateo made a buzzer-beater. Mateo also scored the first basket in the fourth to give QQ the lead.

There were several lead changes and deadlocks from thereon with the match tied last at 66-all, after Camacho made two free throws off Rolly Paraiso’s fourth foul. Paraiso, who was instrumental in QQ’s first two wins in the playoffs, was called for two quick fouls early in the fourth, forcing him to lay-low on defense, as his team had already lost Cruz due to five fouls.

With Paraiso a bit passive on defense, Camacho, Guiab, and Esdrelon managed to create offensive opportunities for Blue Haus in the fourth, while QQ fell apart in the last 1:52 of the match.

Meanwhile, in the battle for third place, the Sunrisers/Island Apparel cruised past Andhok’s Grille, 85-69.

A 21-5 scoring in the first period was all the Sunrisers needed to beat Andhok’s.

Battle for Third

Sunrisers/Island Apparel 85 – J. Quitugua 18, Basa 18, Mendez 13, Joyner 11, Sablan 9, Lizama 8, Deleon Guerrero 3, Peters 2, Aguon 1.

Andhok’s Grille 69 – De Guzman 15, Castro 12, Wesley 12, Umali 11, Garcia 4, Llagas 4, Capalad 3.

Scoring by quarters: 21-5, 51-20, 68-43, 85-69.

Championship

Blue Haus 76 – Camacho 21, Esdrelon 18, Talania 12, Guiab 8, Sharry 4, Aquino 4, Tumaquip 4, Itaas 2.

QQ Rent A Car 69 – Mangali 23, Pagarao 14, Paraiso 11, Abuel 10, Mateo 4, Cruz 2, Montes 1.

Scoring by quarters: 15-17, 40-35, 57-57, 76-69.