Konflikt squeaks past Proa in GBL

  Konflikt outlasted Proa, 72-70, on Wednesday as the Garapan Basketball League IT&E Cup season resumed after a weeklong sabbatical at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Undefeated Konflikt now sits alone in first place in the standings after four games, while Proa’s win-loss record tumbled down to 3-2.

In the nightcap, Mobil gave Running Rebels its first loss of the season, 84-76, to improve to 2-3.

In the curtain raiser, Proa’s Pete Iguel caught fire early and drained two 3-pointers for 14 points in the opening 10 minutes that gave his team a 17-14 advantage.

Konflikt battled back and managed a slim 34-32 advantage at the half.

Iguel was held in check before taking a seat, while Konflikt’s Dave Sablan provided the spark with seven quick points at the start of the second quarter.

Konflikt’s Elmer Esdrelon found his mark after the pause and scored eight points to keep his team in front, 50-47, heading into crunch time.

It went back and forth in a fast-paced fourth period and 11 clutch points from Konflikt’s Jawn Joyner, including a late trey, made the difference when the dust cleared.

Proa’s Iguel scrambled for 10 points to keep his team within striking distance of Konflikt, but a three-point play by Esdrelon sealed the deal for his team.

Esdrelon led a well-balanced Konflikt attack with 15 markers, while Iguel carried Proa with 33 points the hard-fought loss.

In the second match, Mobil built an early 20-14 lead with a mixed effort as six different players scored in the opening period.

Running Rebels’ Ben Lisua and Trevor Ogumoro teamed up for 16 points in a second quarter rally, but Mobil continued to spread the ball around and led it by a handful, 39-43, at halftime.

Mobil’s Jun Estolas then buried a pair of long-range field goals for a quick 12 points early in the third quarter to help his team pull away, 63-49, with 10 minutes to go.

Estolas added 11 more in the fourth period and the Running Rebels were unable to climb out of the hole, despite 12 markers in the clutch by Ogumoro.

Ogumoro led all scorers with 29 on the short end, while Estolas carried the torch for Mobil with 28.

First Game

Konflikt 72 – Esdrelon 15, Sablan 14, Joyner 14, De Vero 12, Barrios 8, Capalad 3, Tamayo 2.

Proa 70 – Iguel 33, Lizama 12, Barcinas 8, Johnson 7, Sablan 5, Rabauliman 4, Libuw 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-17, 34-32, 50-47, 72-70.

Second Game

Mobil 84 – Estolas 28, Fernando 13, Ruluked 12, Sharry 8, Maratita 8, DeGuzman 6, Factor 6, Moises 3, Gapor 2.

Running Rebels 76 – Ogumoro 29, Lisua 14, Sacramento 8, Fitial 7, Villacrusis 6, Litulumar 4, DL Guerrero 2, Aughenbaugh 2, Ogarto 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-14, 39-34, 63-49, 84-76.