Marianas Water, Joeten Superstores win

Marianas Water poured it on all night en route to an 85-63 rout of GPPC during the Pool C game in the 2011 Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League on Thursday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

John Darag led Marianas Water’s splurge, as he sizzled for 30 points. He scored 14 straight markers at one point in the first period to lift Marianas Water to a 22-12 lead.

Marianas Water continued to douse GPPC with its outside shots in the second quarter and a quick 7-0 run for about two minutes padded the lead to 17, 29-12. GPPC never recovered from thereon despite a temporary lull in the second canto that cooled off Marianas Water’s shooting hands a bit. It rained in the last 3:28 of the first half with Marianas Water ahead, 42-22. Game resumed after 30 minutes and though Marianas Water had only three field goals in the remaining minutes of the first half, it was enough to put the team on top by 22 at halftime, 48-26.

Marianas Water pulled away in the second canto, as Danas kept on firing from outside and Yosh Gabaldon also went into a zone. Danas had two triples and eight points in the second period, while Gabaldon tallied 12 in that quarter alone, including seven of Marianas Water’s last eight points in the first half.

Gabaldon went on to finish with 19 markers and gave Marianas Water its first win in two games. Francis Andales also scored in double figures for Marianas Water, chipping in 13.

GPPC dropped to a 1-2 card, as only Randy Mungcal showed a solid offensive game with his 31 markers. Alex Ocampo was the second leading scorer for GPPC, but his eight points were scattered in the four quarters.

In the Pool B game, Joeten Superstores downed the Bud Brothers, 57-50.

Joeten won the game from the free throw line, as seven of its last nine points came from the stripe. Sam Fernandez hit five charities and Amor Casabuena and Mike Umali had one each to save the win for Joeten, which fell behind by a deuce at the end of the third period, 36-38.

With only a basket separating the two teams, Joeten and the Bud Brothers had a neck-and-neck battle in the fourth before the latter gave up costly fouls, giving the former the chance to win the game in the end with its clutch free throws.

The victory kept Joeten’s unbeaten record in two games, while the Bud Brothers fell to a 1-2 slate.

Rodney Sacramento paced Joeten with 17 points, while Casabuena added 14. Toto Banatasa also had 17 points for Bud Brothers.

Joeten Superstores 57 – Sacramento 17, Casabuena 14, Umali 9, Devero 8, Fernandez 6, Cruz 1, Alfonso 1.

Bud Brothers 50 – Banatas 17, Tabora 9, Brillo 7, Pacson 6, Lopez 4, Towun 3, Barroso 2, Ramos 2.

Scoring by quarters: 7-9, 22-18, 36-38, 57-50.

Marianas Water 85 – Darag 30, Gabaldon 19, Andales 13, Lontoc 10, Mendiola 4, Anasan 4, Maniponio 3, Pacheco 3.

GPPC 63 – Mungcal 31, Tolentino 10, Ocampo 8, Tagle 6, Sampang 6, A. Rivera 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-12, 48-26, 71-43, 85-63.