Island Manpower, Eye Sees advance

Island Manpower and Eye Sees marched into the Final Four of the 2015 DLX Invitational Basketball League after eliminating their respective playoff foes last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Island Manpower’s Syl Teregeyo is blocked by Mawati’s Webb Gontar, left, but is fouled by Arjay Nonato during the third quarter of their playoff game in the DLX caging last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Island Manpower routed an erratic Mawati in the nightcap, 80-49, to clinch the fourth and last semis berth, while earlier in the first game, Eye Sees outclassed Maplas, 65-59. Eye Sees and Island Manpower join SSFM/New Garapan Market and Jake’s Catering in the round-robin semis that will start tonight. The Top 2 teams after the round-robin play will duke it out for the championship.

Jun Tabora was on target in Island Manpower’s blowout of Mawati and drew a lot of support from his teammates. Pete Lizama chipped in 17, while Syl Teregeyo and Jerome Norita also finished in twin digits with their 16 and 10 markers, respectively. Ferdie Tobias and Derrick Rangamar completed Island Manpower’s balance offense, combining for 15.

While Island Manpower had a smooth-flowing offense, it was a different story for Mawati, as it failed to hit successive baskets with its several errors disrupting the team’s rhythm.

Turnovers were not recorded during the match, but Mawati had about 10 in the third quarter alone. Before committing those careless passes, Mawati threatened Island Manpower, bringing the once 20-point deficit at halftime to 12 early in the third period, 44-32. However, with Mawati turning the ball over on many occasions, Island Manpower reestablished a comfortable lead at the end of the third, 60-36. Mawati was held to 2 points in the next six minutes and change of the third after making a short rally to face an uphill climb in the fourth.

The big recovery in the fourth canto did not happen, as Mawati continued to squander possessions, while Island Manpower moved the ball well and kept pouring in baskets. Pete Lizama punctuated Island Manpower’s demolition of Mawati with a triple at the fourth-quarter buzzer.

Island Manpower cruised victory despite leading by only 3 after the first period, 17-14. It stretched the advantage to twin digits in the second canto after holding Mawati to 10 points. Derrick Rangamar also nailed a buzzer-beating trey in the second quarter to lift Island Manpower to a 44-24 lead.

In the first game, Eye Sees played better in the second half and canned important free throws in the homestretch to oust Maplas.

Eye Sees scored its last 5 markers from the foul line with Jomar Manzano and Ken Quemado drilling two charities apiece and Erick Dela Rosa making a split.

Dela Rosa and Manzano also knocked in field goals in the final canto to foil Maplas’ comeback bid. Dela Rosa tallied all his 7 points in the fourth, registering 6 of Eye Sees’ first 9 points in that frame, while Manzano added 6.

Eye Sees, which trailed in the first half, 25-27, grabbed the upper hand in the third, 45-37, but could not pull away as Edmark Mendoza kept Maplas’ hopes alive. Mendoza gave Maplas its first 13 points in the final canto, but could not bail his team out of trouble, as he had limited help with only two of his teammates hitting the board in the payoff frame. Mico Usi had a triple in the final quarter, while Ryan Odicta canned a pair of free throws.

First Game
Eye Sees 65 – Manzano 18, Fernando 17, Dela Rosa 7, Espinosa 5, Lim 4, Quemado 4, Directo 4, Muleta 3, David 1.

Maplas 59 – Mendoza 27, Usi 9, Pangilinan 9, Aniciete 7, Claveria 3, Yalung 2, Odicta 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-18, 25-27, 45-37, 65-69.

Second Game
Island Manpower 80 – Tabora 22, Lizama 17, Teregeyo 16, Norita 10, Tobias 8, Rangamar 7.

Mawati 49 – Gontar 19, Larot 11, Rejano 10, Demapan 6, Reyes 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-14, 44-24, 60-36, 80-49.