QQ hands SCS third straight loss

QQ Rent A Car exploded for 32 points in the second period en route to a 90-86 victory over SCS Heavy Equipment Rental in the 2nd Domino Lux International Fraternity/Miller Lite Basketball Invitational Friendship League last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketbal Court.

The win was the second in five games for QQ, while the loss was third in a row for SCS, which tried to recover in the fourth period after trailing by as much as 23 points, but fell short.

QQ was only ahead by a deuce after the opening quarter, 19-17, when Elgene Mangali anchored the team’s breakaway in the second frame with his hot 3-point shooting. Mangali canned three of QQ’s four triples in the second canto and had 14 in that quarter alone to put the team on top by 19 at the break, 51-32.

SCS trailed early, as it played with a depleted crew anew, missing Manolo Manalo and Jack Lizama. Manalo scored 30 points in their loss to Andhok’s Grille last Saturday, while Lizama also contributed double figures in their first three wins before missing SCS’ last three games.

Jessie Mina returned to action after a two-game absence, but his 23-point production was not enough to bail SCS out. Leo Galarse came to play only in the second half, but his eight markers failed to lift SCS in the final 20 minutes of play.

SCS cut the lead to single digits in the fourth period, as QQ let its guard down a bit, but the latter still prevailed with Lerio Pagarao and Wowie Abuel making rally-halting baskets.

Mangali top-scored for QQ with 22, while Pagarao and Abuel added 17 and 14, respectively. QQ outgunned SCS from dowtown, hitting nine treys against the latter’s two.
[B] Shirley’s 63, Hite Beer 51[/B]

In the first game of the night, Shirley’s Coffee Shop finally made it to the win column after losing its first three games, following a 12-point victory over Hite Beer/Blue Haus.

Shirley’s notched the win despite playing with only six players. It held Hite Beer to five points in the opening canto to take control of the game and never looked back from thereon.

Hite made only two field goals in the first period off Zack Babauta’s triple—his lone basket in the game—and Mike Palacios’ jumper.

Marvin Rabauliman and Bruce Berline teamed up for Shirley’s in the opening canto with the former scoring seven and the latter chipping in six for the team’s early double-digit lead, 16-5.

Rabauliman continued to make life difficult for Hite and drew help from Jerome Norita, who finished with 13 points. Rabauliman had a game-high 19 markers. Ivan Devero was the lone double-figure scorer for Hite with 15.

Shirley’s Coffee Shop 63[/B] – Rabauliman 19, Norita 14, Petersberg 9, Berline 8, Barrios 6, Mungcal 6.
[B] Hite Beer/Blue Haus 51[/B] – Devero 15, Lauron 7, Tenorio 7, Palacios 6, Lisua 5, Diaz 4, Babauta 3.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 16-5, 27-17, 41-32, 63-51.
[B] Second Game

QQ Rent A Car 90[/B] – Mangali 22, Pagarao 17, Abuel 14, Camacho 9, Mateo 7, Cruz 6, Paraiso 6, Sablan 1, Montes 2, Sison 1.