Back-to-back for Ali’i Konflikt

MAFEA/ Ali’i Konflikt lost its first game of the season, but won the last one that counted the most.

Ali’i Konflikt prevailed in the winner-take-all finale of the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup, pulling off a 94-80 upset against Namfrel/Proa last Tuesday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium of the TSL Sports Complex.

The victory allowed Ali’i Konflikt to defend the title it claimed over MDX-Chow Queen last season.

The loss was a sorry one for Proa, which swept the regular season and was undefeated going into the championship match. The once unsinkable Proa fell in the most important game of the season, as it struggled with its erstwhile potent 3-point shooting and opted not to use its trademark backcourt trapping defense.

Actually, Proa tried putting its pressure defense in the first four minutes of the second half and it produced dividends as after trailing in the opening quarter, 24-18, it built a seven-point lead, 38-31.

Ali’i Konflikt took early control of the match, as it managed to orchestrate its halfcourt set sans Proa’s suffocating defense. Ivan Devero and Jawn Joyner benefited from Proa’s change of heart, as they converted several baskets off one-on-one plays. The duo combined for 14 points in the first period.

Then in the second quarter, Proa surprised Ali’i Konflikt with its relentless defense and the former forced errors and turned these miscues into baskets. Pete Iguel, who was saddled with two quick fouls midway into the first period and scored only one field goal, drilled eight straight points in the early juncture of the second half, giving Proa the needed break.

However, Proa failed to sustain its momentum, as Ali’i Konflikt settled down midway in the second and the former again opted out of its trapping defense. By the end of the first half, Ali’i Konflikt was only down by a bucket, 42-44.

The second half was an all Ali’i Konflikt show, as it ran its offense well with Proa still choosing not to pressure its foes from the backcourt. On defense, save for Iguel’s first four points in the opening minutes of the third period and last minute in that canto, J.R. Barrios and Elmer Esdrelon alternately hounded the Proa top scorer.

Only three players nailed baskets for Proa in the third and it was held to only one field goal for more than five minutes in that frame, allowing Ali’i Konflikt to take its biggest lead at 15, 67-52.

Joyner and Devero were still at it in the third, but it was the contributions of Barrios, Brandon Talania, and Edmark Mendoza in that quarter that helped Ali’i Konflikt pull away.

A 6-0 windup in the last 56 seconds of the third period kept Proa in the game as it fell behind by only single digit, 58-67, with a full quarter to go.

At the start of the fourth, Proa still allowed Ali’i Konflikt to orchestrate its halfcourt set and the former paid the price when Mendoza scored four quick points on one-on-one plays.

Proa managed to cut the lead anew to single digit, 66-75, before a frustrated Quincy Johnson was called for a technical foul. Johnson, who finished the game scoreless, was contesting a no-call in scramble play at the Ali’i Konflikt court. Esdrelon canned the two technical free throws and with Ali’i Konflikt also getting possession, Joyner converted a short jumper to give his team more distance.

Proa made one final bid to redeem its lost pride in the last 1:37 of the game when it moved within five, 80-85. However, Ali’i Konflikt was not rattled in the end with Joyner bravely attacking Jack Lizama’s defense on a fastbreak play and giving his team a seven-point margin, 87-80.

Ali’i Konflikt went on to seal the win from the foul line, nailing five free throws, while Proa finally folded up in the last minute of the championship game when it missed from the stripe and beyond the arc and uncharacteristically committed errors.

Joyner top-scored for Ali’i Konflikt in the finale, making 23 points, while Devero and Mendoza added 20 and 13. Barrios came of the bench and contributed 16, while Esdrelon tallied 12. Jomar Tumaquip scored only four points, but provided stability at the backcourt, settling his team down when Proa started to tighten its defense on a few occasions.

Lizama led Proa with 21, while Iguel still finished in double figures with 16, but failed to hit a single triple. In the past, Iguel drilled at least three triples and averaged close to 25 points in the regular season. In Proa’s 110-105 semis win over Bayani/Mobil, Iguel exploded for 32 points. Barcinas chipped in 14, but was limited to two field goals in the second half.

Meanwhile, in the battle for third place, Mobil edged Cavite/Andok’s, 90-86.

Mobil/Bayani 90 – Fernando 19, Sharry 13, Moises 13, De Guzman 12, Ruluked 11, Gapor 5, Wenceslao 2.

Cavite/Andok’s 86 – Dayrit 22, Pelisamen 20, Llagas 12, Umali 12, Wesley 8, Artates 8.

Scoring by quarters: 23-15, 32-36, 68-60, 90-86.

MAFEA/Ali’i Konflikt 94 – Joyner 23, Devero 20, Barrios 16, Mendoza 13, Esdrelon 12, Tumaquip 4, Talania 4, Guiab 2.

Proa/Namfrel 80 – Lizama 21, Iguel 16, Barcinas 14, Libuw 10, Sablan 4, Chariton 3, Ogumoro 2.

Scoring by quarters: 24-18, 42-44, 67-58, 94-80.