Party Rockers vs Mix-A-Lot in finals

Party Rockers and Mix-A-Lot posted contrasting playoff wins in the 2011 TSL Women’s Summer Basketball League last Wednesday at the TSL Sports Complex to arrange a winner-take-all championship game tonight.

In the first playoff game, Mix-A-Lot clobbered Aye Par Battay, 65-53, while Party Rockers rallied past the Lazy Buttsss in the second do-or-die match, 63-60.

The top-ranked Party Rockers (8-1) avoided a major upset against the last placed Lazy Buttsss (3-6) after recovering from a five-point deficit, 49-55, in the last five minutes of the second half.

Rachel Abrams led Party Rockers’ come-from-behind victory, scoring eight of the team’s last 10 points. She also did a great job on defense, denying Lazy Buttss’ top-scorer Ira Palero from scoring both in and off the paint.

Abrams finished with 32 big points, with her fastbreak layup capping Party Rockers’ short 10-4 run and tying the match at 59-all. Then after another botched Lazy Buttss offensive set, Abrams slipped past the defense of Palero and drove to the basket to give Party Rockers’ a 61-59 lead, with 1:13 left in the match.

Daylinne Joseph’s first free throw moved the Lazy Buttss within one, 60-61, and the team had two chances to regain the lead, but muffed them when Palero and Javier both missed on their putbacks.

The ensuing plays were wild and wacky as players from both teams fell on the floor and traded errors. The erratic action lasted for more than 20 seconds until Melody Johnson saved the ball from going out of the right baseline and fed Abrams for a layup.

Abram’s basket upped Party Rockers’ lead to three, 63-60, with 17.6 seconds left on the clock. The Lazy Buttsss then went for a quick inbound and Elilai Pialug pulled up for a desperation trey and missed badly.

After Pialug’s airball, Party Rockers were supposed to get possession. However, officials handed the ball to the Lazy Buttsss, saying the team had already called a timeout before the inbound and Pialug’s shot.

When game resumed, Abrams made another defensive stop on Palero at the paint and Party Rockers’ Jeraldine Castillo picked up the leather and headed for a fastbreak play.

With Castillo having the ball and the clock ticking down, Lazy Buttsss point guard Keolani Rios tried to stop the former and in the process gave up a foul. Unfortunately, Rios was slapped with an unsportsmanlike foul, awarding Castillo two free throws plus possession. Castillo missed both and with three seconds left on the clock, Party Rockers made an inbound and the Lazy Butts failed to give up a foul as time expired.

In the first game, Mix-A-Lot got off to a rousing start, leading at halftime, 32-12, en route to an easy win.

Lalaine Pagarao paced Mix-A-Lot with 29 points, while Mercedes Mesa chipped in 18.

Mix-A-Lot will duel Party Rockers in the championship match tonight at 6:30pm.

Mix-A-Lot 65[/B] – Pagarao 29, Mesa 18, Iriarte 8, Alegre 6, Hofschneider 4.
[B] Aye Par Battay 43[/B] – Mendoza 16, Arboliras 12, M. Ito 5, Castillo 4, Palero 4.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 32-12, 65-43.

Party Rockers 63[/B] – Abrams 32, Lebria 10, Ito 9, Johnson 5, Gozon 4, Castillo 3.
[B] Lazy Buttsss 60[/B] – Palero 28, Joseph 13, Javier 9, Castro 8, Lizardo 2.