Docomo extends streak in DLX caging

  Docomo continued its uphill climb in the team standings in the 2012 DLX/DL JOS Inter-Color Basketball League after eking out a 59-53 win over 8 Division last Saturday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Docomo notched its third straight win and with its even 3-3 record, it moved to third place in the team standings in Bracket A behind Team Pogi (4-1) and Irish Spring (3-1) and boosted its playoff chances. Only the Top 4 teams in each bracket will advance to the second round and 8 Division is likely not to make the cut with its 1-4 slate.

Erwin Gomez top-scored for Docomo with 18, including the team’s last eight points. His drive against burly 8 Division center Daniel Cruz tied the game at 53-all, with still 1:40 left on the clock.

8 Division held a precarious three-point lead, going into the final two minutes and a split from Resty Joson sliced the deficit to a deuce and Docomo remained afloat after Cruz muffed both charities on the other end.

After Cruz’s second miss free throw, Docomo controlled the rebound, leading to Gomez’s fastbreak basket. 8 Division continued to miss in the ensuing plays with Rafael Rivera muffing a baseline jumper, Rick Alejandro fumbling underneath, and Rio Jacob faltering a triple. A frustrated Cruz, who was begging for the ball in those botched plays, was then boxed out well by Docomo players, preventing him from going for putbacks.

Gomez, on the other hand, made two more layups and then canned two free throws in the remaining 5.6 seconds to complete the come-from-behind win.

KFC 87, Wushin 60

In the second game, KFC/Taco Bell routed Wushin.

KFC finished the round-robin elimination with a 6-1 record and sealed the No. 1 seed in the playoffs in Bracket B, while Wushin is out of the running with its winless card (0-6).

Wushin was held to only three field goals in the first quarter, while KFC was on target early for a 22-7 advantage. KFC never looked back from thereon and had five players scoring in double figures after four quarters.

Albert Salas led KFC with his 23 markers, Ralph Francisco logged 12, Pat Tinio added 11, and Herbert Maranan and Joel Sevilla contributed 10 each.

Ferdie Tobias paced Wushin with his 19 markers.

First Game

Docomo 59 – Gomez 19, Achas 10, Tengco 7, Joson 5, Usi 4, Cultura 6, Enriquez 3, Tudela 3, Bautista 2.

8 Division 53 – Dela Cruz 18, Detera 11, Alejandro 11, Rivera 11, Reyes 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-11, 27-22, 36-40, 59-53.

Second Game

KFC 87 – Salas 23, Francisco 14, Tinio 11, Sevilla 10, Maranan 10, Deleon Guerrero 8, Tumbaga 2.

Wushin Express 61 – Tobias 19, Tibayan 15, Dacumos 10, De Jesus 5, Schneider 3, Farinas 2, Bautista 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-7, 40-27, 60-44, 87-61.