Islander rallies past MJD

Islander handed MJD its first loss of the season after pulling off a 76-70 victory in their open division match in the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League last Sunday at the San Antonio court.

Islander’s Dexter Tenorio drives against MJD’s Jack Lizama, left, and Cecilio Bisana, partly hidden, during the third quarter of their open division game in the San Antonio caging last Sunday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Islander came back from a 9-point deficit in the fourth quarter to barge into the win column and snap MJD’s two-game winning streak. MJD folded in the final canto after making only 2 points in the last five minutes and change of the game.

Down 59-68, after MJD’s Jun Estolas nailed a pair of free throws with 5:34 left on the clock, Islander dropped an 11-0 bomb capped by Mel Manibusan’s banked shot in the paint to grab the upper hand, 70-68. A Jack Lizama jumper ended MJD’s silence and tied the match, 70-all, going into the final two minutes of the game.

Teams traded misses and errors in the ensuing minute before Alex Lauron converted a baseline jumper to bring the lead back to Islander, while Estolas faltered on his drive on the other end. Jerry Diaz made it a 4-point cushion, 74-70, when he beat the 24-second shot clock as he danced around the defense of MJD for a banked running jumper, with 46 seconds remaining in the game.

With the game slowly slipping away from their hands, MJD coach Marvin Deocares sued for time before they made the inbound play. The game resumed with Errol Peredo doing the inbound honors at the left sideline across MJD’s bench, but his bounce pass to Estolas was intercepted by Zack Babauta, who then completed the big play with a getaway layup that upped Islander’s lead to 6, 76-70, down to 41 seconds.

MJD attempted a couple of triples in the closing seconds and muffed all of them, while Islander milked the clock to seal the come-from-behind win.

Lauron paced Islander with his 15 points, while Dixon Kwon and Mel Manibusan also nailed double figures with 12 and 10, respectively. Paul Bautista had 16 to lead MJD, which was without key players Freddie Pelisamen and Gyles Ruluked. Estolas chipped in 14, while Lizama and Peredo contributed 12 apiece.

With MJD’s loss, Ask Y U B moved up to the top spot in the East Group of the open division, while the former dropped to second. Islander, which had its debut game against KB Market (1-1) rained-out, is in solo third ahead of 5 Star (0-1) and Maplas (0-2) Only Blue Haus has yet to see action in the East Group.

Islander 76 – Lauron 15, Kwon 12, Manibusan 10, Fitial 9, Babauta 8, Arciaga 6, Iglecias 6, Factor 6, Diaz 2, Nakayama 2.

MJD 70 – Bautista 16, Estolas 14, Lizama 12, Peredo 12, Bisana 8, Gamboa 6, Gapor 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-10, 35-33, 61-52, 76-70.