BSI-Blue Eagle rallies past Save More

BSI-Blue Eagle’s Douglas Schmidt soars for a fastbreak layup, while Save More’s Marlon Sison looks on during the second quarter of their game in the UFO caging last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Save More had less in the fourth quarter, allowing Best Sunshine International-Blue Eagle to pull off a 98-87 come-from-behind win in the second game in the 2016 UFO/IT&E Inter-Organizational Basketball League last Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

BSI-Blue Eagle doubled up Save More in the payoff canto, 30-15, to overhaul a 16-point deficit in the first half and steal the win—the former’s fourth in five games. Save More absorbed its third loss after five matches.

Save More squandered a 41-25 advantage midway in the second quarter as it failed to stop Douglas Schmidt from scoring a bundle in the final half. Schmidt dropped 22 of his 35 points in the last 20 minutes of play, including 11 in the fourth canto and 8 straight in the closing minutes of the game.

Earlier in the second period, Schmidt returned to the court when Save More was threatening to pull away behind the outside sniping of Elgene Mangali. The BSI-Blue Eagle gunner drilled 6 of the team’s last 8 points in the first half, while Dindo Pablo added a pair of triples to cut the deficit to single digits at the break, 44-52.

At the resumption of the match, Schmidt continued to do damage for BSI-Blue Eagle, while Matt Duenas was finally reinserted into the game after sitting on the bench for the majority of the second period and quickly made his contribution. The two combined for 19 of BSI-Blue Eagle’s 24 points to move their team within 4 markers, 68-72, entering the fourth canto.

Pablo, who was scoreless in the third period, then knocked in two early triples in the final frame to start things off for BSI-Blue Eagle, while Schmidt delivered the killer blows in the end with his string of baskets to complete the come-from-behind win.

Pablo finished the game with 13 points, while Duenas also broke into double figures, chipping in 12. Mangali led all scorers with his 37 markers.

Meanwhile, Stephen’s Pawnshop improved its record to 3-2 after outclassing Armatech, 79-71.

Stephen’s Pawnshop led right from the start to hand Armatech its second loss in as many games.

Big man Jorge De Guzman dominated Armatech’s frontliners after firing 27 points and drew enough support from his teammates. James Abuy contributed 18, while Michael Espinosa and Raymund Tolentino tallied 13 and 11, respectively.

First Game
BSI-Blue Eagle 98 — Schmidt 35, Pablo 13, Matt Duenas 12, Villarin 12, Raho 7, Manny Duenas 6, Standish 4, Palino 2, Tobias 2, De La Torre 2.
Save More 87 — Mangali 37, Maesa 10, Lilles 10, Sison 9, Quan 9, Viola 6, Mateo 4, Villanueva 2.
Scoring by quarters: 19-21, 44-52, 68-72, 98-87.

Second Game
Stephen’s Pawnshop 79 — De Guzman 27, Abuy 18, Espinosa 13, Tolentino 11, Aranda 6, L. Aquino 2, G. Aquino 2.
Armatech 71 — Alipio 15, Montano 14, Moreno 8, J. Malasarte 8, Asuhan 6, Tolosa 6, Poquiz 4, Park 4, B. Malasarte 2.
Scoring by quarters: 24-17, 42-33, 66-53, 79-71.