Hard Kulangot ousts Eh Di Wow

Hard Kulangot got a free win by default against Ed Di Wow in their rescheduled match in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League yesterday at the Navy Hill court.

Eh Di Wow had only two players at game time, leaving league officials with no choice but to award the victory to Hard Kulangot, which improved to a 4-2 record for the solo fourth place in the team standings. Eh Di Wow finished the league winless in eight games, as it was also forced to forfeit the continuation of its match against Pasion De Amor. Eh Di Wow was still one player short down for its game against Pasion De Amor with Kobe Corpuz and Jerome Reyes joining early comers Lerio Pagarao and Edwin Santos. Eh Di wow is eliminated as it remained at the bottom of the nine-team field. Only the Top 7 squads after the round-robin elimination will march into the playoff round.

Hard Kulangot, on the other hand, joined the open race for the No. 1 spot, which carries an automatic semis berth as an incentive. Makalaro Lang, Pasion De Amor, and Wag Ka Pabebe, which sport similar 5-2 records, are the other contenders for the outright semis ticket, while Oh My J (4-3) and Red Rice (3-3) are in the playoffs, and Purple Rain (2-4) and Kidlat (1-4) will battle for the remaining slot to the next round.

The final standings in the inaugural league will be decided by the five remaining games in the elimination. Today, Purple Rain and Red Rice will play their rained-out match that was originally set last Saturday. The Purple Rain-Red Rice tiff is scheduled in place of the Kidlat-Eh Di Wow match after the latter agreed to forfeit its last assignment, too.

The three other regular games will be played this weekend with Makalaro Lang and Wag Kang Pabebe colliding in a crucial match tomorrow at 4:30pm. The winner of that encounter will boost its chances for the top spot. The second game this Saturday is another important duel with Pasion De Amor challenging Oh My J.

Then on Sunday, Hard Kulangot will face Purple Jam, while it is likely that the continuation of the former’s suspended match against Kidlat last Sept. 27 will resume this weekend.

Hard Kulangot was holding on to a 35-31 lead against Kidlat when their match was halted at the 14:49 mark of the second half due to darkness.

Marlo Ibanez had already scored 12 points in the suspended match to give Hard Kulangot the 4-point cushion, while J.R. Barrios made 8, including 6 in the second half. Justin Zapanta and Manolo Manalo had already recorded 10 points each, while Capalad added 9 to keep Kidlat afloat.

Kidlat will have possession when the game resumes this weekend.