Island Manpower thwarts TBK in finale

Island Manpower withstood TBK Mechanics’ fourth-quarter rally to escape with an 81-78 title win in the 2014 DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League last Sunday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Jun Tabora and Cecilio Bisana nailed split free throws in the closing seconds to make up for earlier misses from the foul line to secure the championship for Island Manpower. Tabora and Bisana previously muffed two free throws each, while Pete Lizama also went 0-for-2 from the stripe, keeping TBK’s hopes alive.

Island Manpower’s Cecilio Bisana goes up for a jump hook against TBK Mechanic’s Christian Devero during the fourth quarter of their title game in the DL Corp. caging last Sunday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

TBK, which was once behind by 16 points in the fourth canto, 53-69, threatened Island Manpower, 78-79, after Ivan Devero canned a lean-in jumper, with 22.6 seconds left on clock. TBK then gave up a quick foul, sending Tabora back to the 15-foot line and the Island Manpower shooter this time had a split to give his team more breathing room, 80-78.

Tabora missed the second charity and Devero got the rebound, sprinted to their frontcourt, and hurriedly pulled up for a long jumper from the right wing with still 9.7 seconds remaining in the game. He faltered and TBK was forced to commit another foul to stop the clock. Bisana trooped to the free throw area anew and drained his first charity before his second one rattled off the rim. Island Manpower then won the rebound play and did a good job avoiding TBK defenders as time expired.

Bisana top-scored for Island Manpower with his 20 points, while Tabora chipped in 15. They combined for 14 points in the third period where Island Manpower tried to pull away after a close first half. Island Manpower led by as much as 17 in the third canto, 60-43, as it launched a shortt 7-2 rally in the first two minutes of that period and outgunned TBK in the next six minutes, 15-8.

Island Manpower went on to keep the double-digit spread, but TBK remained afloat, cutting the lead to a manageable deficit after an 8-2 windup off Devero’s 6 points and Nate Mateo’s layup, 51-62. The basket late in the third was Mateo’s last, as he landed on the wrong foot and left the court limping.

TBK clearly missed Mateo’s quarterbacking skills, as the team’s offense was in disarray early in the fourth, allowing Island Manpower to open another big lead, 69-53, 7:37 left on the clock. With his team starting to fall apart, Devero took the cudgels for TBK and drew some help from Jake Quitugua and Raymond Velasco in launching a crucial 18-4 spurt in the next five minutes to slice Island Manpower’s lead to a deuce, 71-73, 2:39 left in the match.

TBK had a chance to either tie the match with a two-point basket or grab the lead with a triple when Tabora was called for a backing violation on the other end. However, Velasco lost possession on his way to the basket, while Bisana hit a short jumper, followed by Jerome Norita’s layup off Lizama’s assist and steal in the inbound play.

With its back-to-back baskets, Island Manpower entered the final two minutes of the match with a 77-77-71 advantage and TBK gambled on giving up fouls. The ploy worked as Tabora, Lizama, and Bisana missed two free throws apiece, while Ivan Devero had a split and his younger brother Christian scored four straight points to help TBK stay in the match, 76-79. Before faltering on the foul line, Tabora banked a jumper that gave Island Manpower a 3-point lead, which Ivan Devero cut down to one with his own jumper.

TBK went on to give two more fouls after Devero’s basket, but this time Tabora and Bisana drilled one free throw each to finally put the game away.

Meanwhile, San Antonio won the battle for third place against the depleted Shocker Nation, 103-55.

Shocker Nation had only six players and paid the price for its short-handed roster, as San Antonio controlled the match in the second period, turning a 17-15 lead to a 43-29 halftime edge. Seven San Antonio players finished in twin digits with Bryle Alegre leading the way with his 18 points.

First Game

San Antonio 103 – Alegre 18, Espinosa 16, Fidelino 15, Mendoza 14, Arciaga 13, Feria 12, Javier 7, Factor 4.

Shocker Nation 55 – Saturno 16, Cadiang 15, Vertudez 11, J. Villanueva 9, Je. Villanueva 4.

Scoring by quarters: 17-15, 43-29, 71-43, 103-55.

Second Game

Island Manpower 81 – Bisana 20, Tabora 15, Teregeyo 10, Norita 10, Pangelinan 7, Kaipat 4, Capalad 4, Lizama 4, Tobias 3.

TBK Mechanics 78 – I. Devero 28, C. Devero 17, Quitugua 7, Velasco 6, Mateo 5, Santos 4, Catalla 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-16, 38-33, 62-51, 81-78.