Makalaro Lang finishes strong

Makalaro Lang closed out its elimination round assignment in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League with a 98-69 rout of Mamba last Saturday at the Navy Hill court.

Makalaro Lang’s Ivan Devero leans in for a jumper against Mamba’s Adonis Macoto, third from left, and brother Christian, second left, during the second half of their game in the Blue Haus-IT&E caging last Saturday at the Navy Hill court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Makalaro Lang finished the round-robin contest with a 6-2 record to remain in the hunt for the automatic semis slot, pending results of Hard Kulangot’s last two matches and the decision in the game between Pasion De Amor and Oh My J. Hard Kulangot was scheduled to play against Purple Rain yesterday and then resumes its rained-out match versus Kidlat today and a pair of wins would give the former a 6-2 record. Pasion De Amor could also end up with a 6-2 slate should it get the victory against Oh My J today. To resolve the three-way tie for the outright semis berth, which is given to the No. 1 finisher in the team standings, league organizers will implement a point system based on the teams’ winning margin against each other.

Four Makalaro Lang players scored double-figures in their domination of Mamba, which fell short in its bid for the automatic semis ticket after dropping to a 5-3 slate. Ivan Devero led the way for Makalaro Lang with his 32 points, while John Jugos added 21 as he showed up in the team’s last match in the elimination after missing a couple of games. Fifteen of Jugos’ total points came from downtown, as he was on target from beyond the arc, particularly in the fourth quarter where he canned three straight triples. Errol Peredo and Raymond Velasco were the other double-figure scorers for Makalaro Lang, chipping in 18 and 10, respectively, and the squad’s three other players—Ernie Moises, Greg De Leon, and Rico Morales—combined for twin digits, too, contributing 17.

With Jugos hitting his outsides shots and Devero anchoring Malakaro Lang’s fastbreak plays, they took a promising 14-point lead at the halftime, 40-26. Makalaro Lang never looked back from thereon, pulling away further in the second half with the rest of the team joining the scoring surge.

Mamba failed to mount a comeback, as it had only Christian Devero and Brendon Talania consistently scoring for the squad. Devero and Talania finished with 21 points apiece, while J.R. Mina had a quiet 12 points with most of his baskets made when the game was already in the bag for Makalaro Lang.

Makalaro Lang 98 – I. Devero 32, Jugos 21, Peredo 18, Velasco 10, Moises 7, De Leon 6, Morales 4.

Mamba 69 – C. Devero 21, Talania 21, Mina 12, M. Devero 8, Woodson 4, Macoto 3.

Scoring by halves: 40-26, 98-69.