JP World brings down High-Five

High-Five?s Tim Wesley has nowhere to go as he is hemmed in by JP World?s Rolly Paraiso, left, and Juan Camacho during the second quarter of their game in the QQ caging last Monday night at the Garapan Basketball Court. (ROSELYN B. MONROYO)

JP World withstood High-Five’s fourth-quarter rally to nail an 86-75 win at the resumption of action in the 2014 QQ Rent A Car Invitational Basketball League last Monday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.
Freddie Pelisamen canned back-to-back triples in the last two minutes of the match to thwart High-Five, which threatened JP World, moving within 7 points, 71-78, after falling behind by as much as 17 markers, 69-52, early in the fourth canto.

High-Five outgunned JP World during a four-minute stretch, 19-6, with big man Ken McCain scoring the former’s last two baskets off a two-handed slam and a putback off his own miss. JP World lost the double-digit deficit, as it opted to give playing time to its second stringers and left Pelisamen and fellow starter Jun Estolas on the bench.

Sensing trouble, JP World coach Marvin Deocares recalled his key players and Pelisamen quickly responded with an and-1 play from beyond the arc. The former CNMI National Team member went for an isolation play against High-Five’s Bobby Coldeen and with the 24-second shot clock down to 8, he pulled up for a triple from the right key, was bumped by his defender and still made the long jumper
Pelisamen completed the rare 4-point play to bring JP World’s lead back to twin digits, 82-71, with 1:34 left in the fourth quarter. High-Five missed on the other end, returning possession to JP World, which got another triple from Pelisamen to seal the win, 85-71, going into the last one minute of the match.

Pelisamen finished the game with a season-high 41 points, while Marlon Sison was the only other double-figure scorer for JP World with his 11 markers. McCain and Don Brennan top-scored for High Five with 22 points apiece, while Tim Wesley chipped in 11.

High-Five had to rally in the fourth quarter after scoring only 2 points and one field goal in the last five minutes and change of the third period. The game was still tied, 50-all, after High-Five’s Coldeen hit a fastbreak layup. But that was before JP World went on a 14-2 windup to build a double-digit advantage at the end of the third canto, 64-52. Pelisamen logged 7 points in the exchange, Estolas had a triple, and Manolo Manalo made back-to-back baskets, while Joe Acosta drilled the lone field goal for High-Five under the one-minute mark of that frame.

JP World kept it going in the first minute of the final canto with Juan Camacho opening the fourth with a triple and Sison converting two straight bank shot to give their team its biggest lead.

Holding a comfortable 17-point advantage, JP World relaxed a bit, allowing High-Five to mount a comeback, which Pelisamen eventually foiled after scoring 10 of his team’s last 12 points.

The win was JP World’s second in three games, while the loss was High-Five’s third in four matches. Both teams came from defeats with JP World bowing to unbeaten Blue Haus (3-0) and High-Five losing to the Hoopaholics on April 14 before the league took a break in observance of the Lenten season.

JP World 86 – Pelisamen 41, Sison 11, Manalo 8, Paraiso 8, Camacho 5, J. Estolas 4, D. Estolas 2, Peredo 2, Deocares 2.
High-Five 75 – McCain 22, Brennan 22, Wesley 11, Coldeen 8, Park 6, Acosta 4, Aughenbaugh 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-14, 44-36, 64-52, 86-75.