Docomo/Hoops steal win from Cavite

The UPAA/Docomo Hoopaholics overhauled a 12-point deficit to eke out a 73-71 win over Cavite/Andok’s in the second game in the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup on Saturday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

Mel Manibusan completed a three-point play in the Hoops last offensive set, while Cavite/Andok’s Freddie Pelisamen muffed two chances to tie the match, allowing the Docomo Pacific-sponsored squad to grab the lead and the victory.

Cavite/Andok’s had the upper hand for the last time, 71-70, after Tim Wesley connected off an undergoal stab against the outstretched arms of Kelvin Fitial, with 21.5 seconds left on the clock.

The Hoops sued for time and when game resumed, John Sablan almost lost the ball from the right sideline. He recovered after the fumble and found Fitial open at the right baseline. However, Fitial had second thoughts attempting for a shot, as he was too deep under the basket and opted to kick the ball out to a cutting Manibusan. The gamble paid off, as Manibusan got the pass, pulled up for a bank shot, made it, and drew a foul from Mike Umali. Before Umali’s foul, Cavite/Andok’s had only one foul and could have given up more earlier when the Hoops were not in the scoring position.

Manibusan completed the three-point play for the Hoops 73-71 cushion, 9.3 seconds to go in the game.

Cavite/Andok’s called its last time out and when the game resumed, Pelisamen took matters on his own hands, but unfortunately failed to save his team from absorbing its fourth loss in as many games. Pelisamen went for an isolation play from the right key and eluded his defenders outside. He then pulled up for a scoop shot against Fitial and Manibusan but the shot hit nothing but air. Pelisamen grabbed the offensive rebound and went for a putback. This time, the ball made it to the rim, but rattled out. Fitial controlled the defensive rebound and time expired, handing the Hoops their third win in four games.

Cavite/Andok’s suffered another loss despite holding the lead in the first three quarters. It tasted its biggest advantage at the break, 42-30, but lost it when it scored only one field goal in the last 3:36 of the match.

Cavite/Andok’s led at 65-56, with 6:15 remaining on the clock, when Fitial and Dave Sablan achored a 12-4 run to move the Hoops within one, 68-69, 2:32 to go in the game. Then neither team scored for more than one minute before Dave Sablan intercepted a cross pass for Mike Olaitiman and went for a fastbreak layup to give the Hoops their first taste of the lead since the 2-0 count in the first half, 70-69, 33.9 seconds left in the match.

Cavite/Andok quickly regained the lead when Pando Muleta found Wesley in the paint and the latter made the inside basket. However, the Hoops still had the last say when their big men—Manibusan and Fitial—teamed up for the game winning basket and held their ground on defense against Pelisamen in the closing seconds of the match.

Both Fitial and Manibusan finished in double figures with the former scoring 16 and the latter adding 15. Dave Sablan also had 15, while Walter Mendez and John Sablan chipped in 11 and 10, respectively.

Pelisamen led all scorers with 22.

In the curtain-raiser, Namfrel Proa handed VisMinda/Satbahi its first loss after a big 94-71 victory.

The win kept Namfrel’s undefeated record (2-0) while VisMinda dropped to a 3-1 mark and lost the lead to Bayani/Mobil (3-0).

VisMinda stayed in the game only in the first quarter, falling behind by eight, 11-17. Namfrel/Proa upped the lead to 12 at the break, 40-27, and then pulled away in the third, 67-50, behind its triples and Dan Barcinas’ 10 points. Proa connected on four treys in the third canto and nine in the game.
[B] First Game

Namfrel Proa 94[/B] – Iguel 24, Barcinas 19, Lizama 12, Johnson 11, Libuw 10, Sablan 9, Ogumoro 6, Camacho 2.
[B] VisMinda/Satbahi 71[/B] – Manalo 12, Mangali 11, Inos 10, Paraiso 9, Peredo 7, Santos 6, Eclevia 5, Camacho 5, Sison 2, De Dios 1.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 17-11, 40-27, 67-50, 94-71.

UPAA/Docomo Hoopaholics 73[/B] – Fitial 16, Manibusan 15, D. Sablan 15, Mendez 11, J. Sablan 10, Cabrera 2.