NVM bests I-Fashion in regular season finale

NVM held off a late third quarter rally by I-Fashion to cap off the Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League’s regular season last Thursday at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

In addition, Cell Pro was awarded a win over Lyn’s BBQ last Wednesday as a result of the former conceding the match after just one half of play.

The regular season ended with Pacific Postal, Wings Travel, and Inchcape with identical 4-2 records in the A Bracket. Just a game behind them are 8th Division and MBI with Star Water bringing up the rear with its 2-4 slate.

Sherwin Williams dominated the B Bracket, finishing undefeated in six games. A game behind them comes Joeten Superstore, while I-Fashion (3-2), Fong’s Bakery (2-4), Bud Brothers (2-4), and NVM (2-4) round out the rest of the division.

Fresco Askal swept the C Bracket with six wins and GPPC is ranked second with its 4-2 record. Mawati and Cell Pro are tied for third place at 3-3; and Lyn’s BBQ and Jacem Printing sit at the bottom with identical 2-4 standings.

Weather permitting, the playoffs tip off this Friday in Gualo Rai with A Bracket’s 8th Division taking on MBI at 6pm followed at 8pm with B Bracket’s Sherwin Williams challenging Life Force.

In Thursday’s game, NVM broke out to a 23-13 lead in the opening 10 minutes. Ziddy Johannes led the charge with 10 points in the first quarter.

NVM maintained a 44-3, edge at the half as Jun Ortiz hit three treys for 11 points in the second quarter. I-Fashion’s Nathan Kapileo led his team with 11 markers in the opening half.

I-Fashion adjusted after the break and pulled within two possessions, 54-58, heading into the final period. I-Fashion’s Angelo Fernando scrambled for seven points in the comeback as he and his teammates contained NVM’s bench to just 14 points in the third quarter.

I-Fashion did not fade at crunch time, but NVM found a way to get the job done. NVM’s J.C. Muna came up big in fourth quarter, burying two 3-pointers for seven points in the clutch.

NVM’s Johannes and J.R. Muna finished with 18 points apiece in the game, while I-Fashion’s Kapileo turned in 13 in the loss.

Back on Wednesday, Lyn’s BBQ kept pace with Cell Pro after the tip remained within two possessions, 6-10, in the first quarter, but Cell Pro heated up in the second period and jumped out to a disheartening, 36-19, lead at the pause.

With the outcome of the game not effecting either team’s position in the standings, Lyn’s BBQ opted to gift Cell Pro with the win and lived on to fight another day.

[B]NVM 77[/B] – Johannes 18, J.R. Muna 18, Ortiz 15, J.C. Muna 11, Metran 10, Montes 5.

[B]I-Fashion 73[/B] – Kapileo 17, Salazar 13, Fernando 12, Lapuz 8, Villanueva 7, Delos Reyes 5, Mi. Achas 4, Mc. Achas 4, Odicta 3.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 23-13, 46-33, 58-54, 77-73.