AD-31 back on track, beats LD Prime

AD-31 showed poise in the closing minutes of the second game in the 2012 DLX/DL JOS Inter-Color Basketball League to down LD Prime, 74-63, last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

The win ended AD-31’s two-game losing skid and improved its record to 2-3, while LD Prime dropped to a 1-2 slate after the fourth-quarter collapse.

AD-31 outgunned LD Prime, 20-7, in the last 3:48 of the game to nail the 11-point win. LD Prime was stuck to 56 points for about three minutes, committed several turnovers, and took too many outside shots before converting two late field goals that were already useless, as AD-31 was headed for the victory.

David Magtuloy committed one of those costly errors in the homestretch when he was called for a technical foul after shouting from the backcourt with AD-21 Lester Vertudez breaking away for a fastbreak layup.

Vertudez converted the layup to tie the game, 56-all, and then put AD-31 in the lead when he made the two technical free throws. AD-31 kept possession and Jimmy Floreindo added a free throw to widen the gap, 59-56, with less than three minutes left on the clock.

LD Prime either turned the ball over or muffed jumpers in the ensuing plays, while AD-31 drew six straight points from Rodney Sacramento on fastbreak baskets to stretch the lead. Two more fastbreak conversions, one each from Vertudez and Buboy Sablan put the final nail on LD Prime’s coffin, as AD-31 worked out a 69-56 advantage, entering the final minute of the fourth.

Sacramento led all scorers with 25 points, while Vertudez chipped in 15.

Magtuloy and Nat Banatasa paced with 15 markers apiece.

In the second game, the Fastbreakers also played steady in the homestretch to foil Sinigang’s upset bid.

Sinigang led, 71-60, after three quarters, but the Fastbreakers regrouped in the payoff canto to escape with the fourth-point win and keep their perfect record (5-0).

The Fastbreakers caught up with Sinigang in the last two minutes of the game and completed the come-from-behind victory with Niko Salem scoring 5 of the team’s last 7 points.

Salem finished with 23 points to back up Melvin Cadiang, who nailed a game-high 25 markers.

Michael Moran had 21 for Sinigang (1-2), while Prince Factor tallied 20, making 10 of them in the third to give their team a double-digit lead.

However, Factor and company folded up in the end after failing to neutralize Salem and Cadiang in the fourth canto. The duo combined for 21 of Fastbreakers’ 33 points in the fourth quarter.

AD-31 74 – Sacramento 25, Vertudez 23, Floreindo 6, Culala 5, Sablan 4, Lavarias 3, Anasa 2, Tenorio 1.

LD Prime 63 – Magtuloy 15, Banatasa 15, Jugos 11, Hernaez 9, J. Quemado 7, Espinosa 2, Perez 2, Pena 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-12, 32-27, 49-46, 74-63.

Fastbreakers 93 – Cadiang 25, Salem 23, Saturno 11, Taylor 10, Palacios 9, Pelegrino 8, Mangana 7.

Sinigang 89 – Moran 21, Factor 20, Ano 14, Macahito 10, Gotengco 8, Jeri. Habijan 5, Lapuz 3, Madreo 2, Pangelinan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-21, 46-46, 60-71, 93-89.