Close wins for Slashers, KB Hite

The Slashers and KB Hite recorded close wins over separate foes in the 2015 Graphics Invitational Masters Basketball League last Friday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The Slashers’ Gerry Farinas, right, fakes off the defense of Blue Haus’ Tony Diaz during the third quarter of their game in the 2015 Graphics Invitational Masters Basketball League last Saturday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Slashers eked out a 67-65 victory against Saipan Warriors in the curtain-raiser to barge into the win column in the seven-team field after dropping its debut over Armatech last week. In the second game, KB Hite pulled off a come-from-behind 87-72 win versus the Boomers (0-2) to improve to a 2-1 record.

Ariel Abadilla knocked in pressure-packed free throws in the closing seconds to lift the Slashers in the 3-point win. He went 2-for-2 from the foul line, giving the Slashers a 67-64 cushion, with less than 10 seconds remaining on the clock.

Saipan Warriors (1-2) had a chance to force the game into overtime when Nelson Samson pulled up for a triple and was fouled. However, Samson hit only one of his three charities, allowing the Slashers to keep the lead as they run down the clock.

Sonny Ebuen top-scored for the Slashers with his 19 points, while Abadilla backed him up, adding 13.

Samson had a game-high 21 points, while Reli Del Rio chipped in 19.

In the second game, Randy Mungcal, Marlon Sison, and Ed Pangelinan teamed up in KB Hite’s fourth-quarter rally to foil the Boomers’ bid for their first win.

Down by 5 at the end of the third period, 60-65, Mungcal, Sison, and Pangelinan combined for 19 of KB Hite’s 27 markers in the fourth to steal the victory from the Boomers. The Boomers scored only 17 points in the fourth—their lowest output in a quarter.

Pangelinan led all scorers with his 31 points, as his 3-point shooting in the second and third periods prevented the Boomers from breaking away. Sison contributed 15, 7 came in the final canto, while Mungcal also hit 7 his 10 markers in the pivotal fourth.

Mico Usi had 16 points to pace the Boomers, while Dindo Pablo, Bobby Dela Cruz, and Art Salazar also finished in twin digits, drilling 15, 14, and 13, respectively.

First Game
Slashers 67 – S. Ebuen 19, Abadilla 13, Tibayan 9, Tengco 6, Alvarez 5, De Jesus 4, Bautista 4, Villasan 2, Leong 2.

Saipan Warriors 65 – Samson 21, Del Rio 19, Geli 14, Mateo 4, Tiples 4, Domingo 1.

Scoring by quarters: 19-18, 35-27, 52-41, 67-65.

Second Game
KB Hite 87 – Pangelinan 31, Sison 15, Mungcal 10, Yalung 8, Verano 8, Pineda 5, Duenas 4, Koebel 3, Demapan 2.

Boomers 82 – Usi 16, Pablo 15, Dela Cruz 14, Salazar 13, Joson 7, Echavez 7, Culala 4, Cortez 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-25, 41-47, 60-65, 87-82.