BSI-Blue Eagle, PC Bargain win

PC Bargain/Visminda’s James Villacrusis pulls up for a one-hander during the second quarter of their game in the UFO caging last Tuesday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Best Sunshine International-Blue Eagle/SMF gained a share of the lead in the 2016 UFO/IT&E Inter-Organizational Basketball League after escaping with 70-69 win over 8th Division/MAFEA last Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Douglas Schmidt had a split from the free throw line in the last 2 seconds of the match to lift BSI-Blue Eagles to the close victory and a 2-0 record. Schmidt was fouled by Alex Lauron and missed his first charity before making the second one to put BSI-Blue Eagle on top of the nine-team field, tying idle Ali’i Blue Haus/Bayani. The two undefeated teams will battle for the solo lead tonight as they collide in the second game.

8th Division fell to a 1-2 mark, as Amor Zapata’s long heave did not even cross the half court line. The 8th Division playing coach had to force a shot as they were left without a timeout in the dying seconds of the match. Earlier before Schmidt went to the free throw stripe, Jun Tabora went 2-for-2 from the foul line to force a deadlock, 69-all.

BSI-Blue Eagle sued for time with eight seconds remaining on the clock. Schmidt then received the inbound pass from Tony Raho and the former was way too far from the basket—from the top key—when Lauron reached in for a steal and was called for a crucial foul.

Schmidt went on to top-score for BSI-Blue Eagle with his 17 points, while Matt Duenas had 10 in his debut with the team. Melvin Villarin also finished in twin digits with his 10 markers to help BSI-Blue Eagles build a 38-29 halftime lead. Villarin played only in the first 20 minutes of the game.

8th Division then moved within a deuce after the third period, 51-53, behind Kelvin Fitial, Lauron, and Jun Alipio, who combined for 20 of the squad’s 22 points in the penultimate quarter. 8th Division continued to recover and even went up by 5 points, 61-56, down to the last three minutes of the match.

However, 8th Division failed to hang on to the lead as Schmidt and Duenas came to BSI-Blue Eagle’s rescue in the end. Schmidt scored 8 straight points, including back-to-back triples before his game-winning split, while Duenas also had a string of 4 markers late in the game.

Meanwhile, in the second match, PC Bargain/Visminda notched its first win after a 0-2 start following an 82-70 victory over Maplas/Akap Pinoy (0-2).

James Villacrusis starred in PC Bargain’s triumph after exploding for 46 points. He had 13 points in the fourth quarter, including the team’s last 9 markers to give PC Bargain the double-digit winning margin.

PC Bargain was ahead by only 3 at the start of the final canto, 59-56, and earlier in the third was behind, 41-46, when Villacrusis took matters into his own hands to end the team’s two-game skid.

Albert Reyes and Mel Manibusan backed Villacrusis up, combining for 24 points. Angelo Fernando had 20 markers on a losing cause for the winless Maplas.

First Game
BSI-Blue Eagle 70 — Schmidt 17, Duenas 10, Villarin 10, Pablo 6, Raho 6, Jinang 6, Standish 5, Hammond 4, Tobias 3, Rabago 3.

8th Division 69 — Lauron 18, Fitial 12, Alipio 12, J. Tabora 10, Catalla 6, Itibus 6, Tenorio 3, D. Tabora 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-14, 38-29, 53-51, 70-69.

Second Game
PC Bargain 82 — Ja. Villacrusis 46, Reyes 14, Manibusan 10, Reporsado 7, Legaspi 5, Munoz 4, Alegre 3.

Maplas 70 — Fernando 20, Viray 19, Sanguyo 10, Galulu 7, Usi 4, Verano 4, Joson 3.

Scoring by quarters: 22-16, 41-40, 59-56, 82-70.