Namfrel/Proa nears regular season sweep

Seven down, one to go.

Namfrel/Proa moved a win away from sweeping its elimination round games in the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup after dominating UPAA/Docomo Hoopaholics, 105-83, on Tuesday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

Namfrel/Proa plays Cabalen/Noni tonight in the last match in the UFO Bud Cup regular season and a win will give the former the top ranking in the nine-team field and a bye in the first round of the playoffs. If Namfrel/Proa loses in the 8pm game, Cabalen (6-1) will get the No. 1 spot and the incentive that goes with it.

UPAA/Hoopaholics (6-2) could end up at either second or third place depending on the results of the Cabalen/Proa match. The Hoops had their five-game winning run snapped after the loss to Proa.

Namfrel/Proa put up a tough pressure defense on UPAA/Hoopaholics all throughout the game, preventing the latter from executing its half court offense. When UPAA/Hoopaholics managed to escape from Proa’s backcourt press, which happened only on a few occasions, the latter still recovered at the frontcourt, foiling the former’s fastbreak plays.

On offense, Namfrel/Proa consistently made its outside shots and had a field day from downtown in the fourth quarter where it canned seven triples.

Pete Iguel started Namfrel/Proa’s attack, firing eight straight points in the first period, which ended with the winning squad ahead by only three, 25-22. The lead was stretched to nine at the break, 49-40, with Iguel still hitting his shots, adding nine more markers and Barcinas chipping in seven.

In the third quarter, Namfrel/Proa’s lead ballooned to as much as 17, 57-40, before the Hoops slightly recovered behind Dave Sablan’s baskets and moved within 19, 53-63.

The third period ended with Namfrel/Proa on top by a manageable lead, 65-53, but the advantage was back to 17 after Jack Lizama started the fourth canto with a layup and Quincy Johnson followed it up with a triple.

Namfrel/Proa drilled six more triples in the ensuing plays with the last one coming from Gino Libuw and giving the team its biggest lead at 24 points, 98-74, 2:32 left on the clock.

Namfrel/Proa coach Rufino Aguon sued for time after Libuw’s basket and when the game resumed, the former let his second stringers finish the match.

Iguel left the court with 40 points, while Lizama and Johnson chipped in 14 each. Barcinas contributed 12.

Dave Sablan led the Hoops with 30 markers, but he had to bleed for his points, as he was hounded by Namfrel/Proa defenders in the majority of the first three periods of the match. Sablan tallied 13 of his total markers in the fourth when Namfrel/Proa started loosening up its defense. James Villacrusis added 18, while Kelvin Fitial had a quiet 13 markers.

Namfrel/Proa 105 – Iguel 40, Lizama 14, Johnson 14, Barcinas 12, Chariton 7, Ogumoro 5, Valdez 4, Sablan 4, Libuw 3, Babauta 2.

UPAA/Docomo Hoopaholics 83 – D. Sablan 30, Villacrusis 18, Fitial 13, Cabrera 10, Palacios 7, Manibusan 3, Mendez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-22, 49-40, 65-53, 105-83.