GMJ/IKKI keeps clean slate

GMJ/IKKI Wholesale withstood Blue Haus’ fourth-quarter rally to eke out a 79-75 victory and remain undefeated in the Open division of 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League last Monday night at the San Antonio court.

GMJ/IKKI Wholesale’s Josue Melendez goes up for an uncontested layup, while Blue Haus’ Angelo Fernando, right, and Raymond Velasco look on during their Open division game in the San Antonio caging at the San Antonio court.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Josue Melendez hit clutch baskets to save the day for GMJ/IKKI, while Blue Haus fell short in its comeback bid after committing a couple of errors in the homestretch.

Blue Haus trailed by as much as 10 points in the fourth quarter, but managed to move within a deuce on two occasions. The last time was at the 77-75 tally, going into the last 53.6 seconds of the game or after Angelo Fernando canned a banked jumper.

Melendez made it a 3-point cushion when he drew a foul on Bart Demapan on the other end and split his free throws. Blue Haus then had a chance to slice the deficit to one with a two-pointer or tied the match with a triple, but Marlon De Dios’ pass to a cutting Demapan at the baseline went wide and rolled out, returning possession to GMJ/IKKI. De Dios had a good line near the free throw area, but decided at the last minute to drop the leather down to Demapan, who was hounded by the taller Melendez under the basket.

Chris Estevez duplicated De Dios’ error, as the former also turned gun shy, appearing to be pulling up for jumper before opting to pass the ball to Melendez in the paint. Blue Haus’ Manolo Manalo anticipated the pass and threw the ball to Fernando for a fastbreak play. Fortunately for GMJ/IKKI, Esteves went back quickly on defense and swiped the ball away from a driving Fernando.

Blue Haus kept the possession, but turned the ball over anew as De Dios kickout pass to Manalo was a bit short and was picked up by J.R. Barrios. Manalo was then forced to foul Barrios to stop the clock, which read at 17.3 seconds.

Barrios had a split to up their lead to 4, 79-75, and the scores remained unchanged as Demapan faltered on a jumper and later hung on too long to the ball with Juan Camacho all over him before making a wrong pass, which Estevez caught, down to the last 2.3 seconds of the game.

Melendez top-scored for GMJ/IKKI with his 24 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter to foil Blue Haus’ repeated comeback bids. He nailed a coast-to-coast layup that ended Blue Haus’ 8-0 run and gave GMJ/IKKI more breathing room, 71-67, after their foes moved within two, 67-69. The mobile big man then fed Barrios underneath the basket to up their lead to six, 73-67, going into the final two minutes of the match.

A triple from Raymond Velasco cut the deficit to three, 70-73, but GMJ/IKKI hung on tight in the end to notch its fourth win in as many games.

Fernando led Blue Haus’ losing cause with his 21 points, while Elmer Esdrelon chipped in 17, but missed the entire fourth quarter as he fouled out in the last 45.6 seconds of the third period.

Meanwhile, the Sonics bagged their third straight win after dominating Triple J, 74-68.

Jaymark De Guzman paced the Sonics with his 14 points, while Melvin Cadiang and Francos Bondoc contributed 10 apiece.

First Game
Sonics 74 – De Guzman 14, Cadiang 10, Bondoc 10, Palacios 8, Dela Rosa 6, Sto. Domingo 6, Flores 2, Fidelino 2, Hernandez 2, Lansang 2.

Triple J 48 – Pestillos 16, Palacios 8, Olopai 8, Inos 6, Jarabe 6, Monkeya 4.

Scoring by quarters: 16-14, 40-27, 50-40, 74-48.

Second Game
GMJ/IKKI 79 – Melendez 26, Esteves 15, Barrios 8, Mangali 8, Villacrusis 6, Borja 5, Dizon 4, Camacho 3, Oyola 3, Ferrer 1.

Blue Haus 75 – Fernando 21, Esdrelon 17, Manalo 15, Demapan 12, Velasco 9, De Dios 7, Berline 4.

Scoring by quarters: 20-18, 44-34, 62-57, 79-75.