Irish Spring breaks into win column

  Irish Spring thwarted AD-31’s late rally to eke out a 77-73 victory in the curtain-raiser in the 2012 DLX Inter-Color Basketball League last Wednesday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

The win was only the first in three games for Irish Spring, which bowed to LD Prime in the Bracket A opener and had a rained-out match versus 8 Division on May 23, while AD-31 absorbed its second loss after three assignments.

Irish Spring seemed headed for the easy victory, as it led by double digits, 72-62, going into the final 2:30 of the game before Rod Sacramento led an 11-4 run to move AD-31 within three, 73-76, 22.3 seconds left in the match. Sacramento had a chance to cut the deficit to a deuce, as besides making his last basket, he also drew a foul on Art Trajano, but missed the bonus shot.

Down by three, AD-31 quickly fouled Trajano after the rebound play and the gamble paid off as the Irish Spring big men muffed both charities. However, Irish Spring trooped to the line anew, as after Trajano’s second miss, he got the offensive board and passed the ball to guard Rick Brien, who then drew a foul on Baldo Lavarias.

Brien split his charities, giving Irish Spring more cushion, with less than 20 seconds left on the clock, and AD-31 failed to complete the come-from-behind win when Jimmy Florenco missed two crucial free throws and Lester Vertudez bungled an inside shot in the ensuing plays.

Sam Fernandez top-scored for Irish Spring with 14 points, while Bernard Samson added 10. Brien contributed 9 points, while Trajano, Jeff Garcia, and Cordero made 7 apiece, with the latter scoring all his points in the third to keep Irish Spring in the lead, 56-51.

Fastbreakers 86, Wushin 53

In the second game, the Fastbreakers cruised past Wushin, 86-53.

The Fastbreakers’ young guns proved to be too much for the veteran crew of Wushin, which kept paced with its foe only in the first period before losing steam in the next three quarters.

After leading by 9 at the end of the opening canto, 18-9, the Fastbreakers slowly pulled away in the second period with Melvin Cadiang, Niko Salem, and Jack Aranda alternately doing the damage for the team.

The trio scored in double figures with Salem nailing 20 and Aranda and Cadiang chipping in 16 and 14, respectively. Adrian Palacios and Kevin De Leon also finished in twin digits with 10 each.

Jun Patawaran and Dick Tibayan were the only two Wushin players to fire double figures with 13 and 10, respectively.

The Fastbreakers notched their third win in as many games, while Wushin is still winless after three matches in Bracket B.

First Game

Irish Spring 77 – Fernandez 14, Samson 10, Brien 9, Trajano 7, Cordero 7, Garcia 7, B. Montano 6, Leong 6, J. Montano 2, Sarmiento 1.

AD-31 73 – Sacramento 21, Florendo 12, Tenorio 11, Vertudez 10, Lavarias 8, Culala 6, Anasan 2, Palomique 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-14, 35-27, 56-51, 77-73.

Second Game

Fastbreakers 86 – Salem 20, Aranda 16, Cadiang 14, Palacios 12, De Leon 12, Isip 8, Saturno 4, Taylor 2.

Wushin 53 – Patawaran 13, Tibayan 10, Tobias 6, Ebuen 5, De Belen 4, Schneider 4, Dacumos 4, De Jesus 2, Farinas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-9, 37-26, 56-36, 86-53.