Marianas Water, Brabu stay alive

  Brabu Gualo Rai and Marianas Water remained in playoff contention after winning separate games in the 2012 DLX/DL JOS Inter-Color Basketball League last Friday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Brabu beat San Roque in the first game, 69-63, to improve to a 3-3 record and tie Banahaw for third place in Bracket B. Only the Top 4 teams will advance to the playoffs and KFC/Taco Bell (5-1) and the Fastbreakers (5-1) had already secured the first two tickets. Banahaw, Brabu, Sinigang (2-3), San Roque, and R-Lyn’s (1-3) will fight for the two remaining playoff slots.

Rommel Usi led Brabu’s important win, firing 25 points, while JP Jose nailed 15. The duo teamed up in the fourth quarter to match Angelo Fernando’s explosion and lift Brabu to the six-point win. Usi made 10 points in the final canto, while Jose chipped in 7 and three other Brabu players contributed at least one basket apiece.

Fernando had 11 of San Roque’s 15 markers and only him and Ryan Odicta lit up the scoreboard in the payoff period. San Roque led after the third canto, 47-45, but lost the game in the end due to its limited option on offense.

San Roque fell to a 2-4 record and must prevail in its last game and pray that Brabu, Banahaw, and Sinigang will not record more than three wins to stay in the hunt for the playoff tickets in Bracket A.

In Bracket B, Marianas Water edged Mawati, 61-60, to force a tie for fourth place with Docomo (3-3). Only the Top 4 squads in Bracket A will also make it to the playoffs and only Team Pogi (5-1) has been assured of a playoff ticket with Mawati (3-2), DLX/Irish Spring (3-1), Docomo (3-3), Marianas Water, and AD 31 (3-4) left to battle for the three remaining spots.

Marianas Water led from start to finish and thwarted Mawati’s comeback bid after Mel Capalad hit four crucial free throws in the homestretch and Joey Sirivan canned three straight baskets early in the fourth.

Capalad paced Marianas Water with his 17 markers, while Joseph Galulu added 10. Jerome Reyes was the lone double figure scorer for Mawati with 15, but was held to only two points in the fourth canto, as they fell short of eking out a come-from-behind win.

Meanwhile, the first game between Team Pogi and DLX/Irish Spring last Saturday was rained-out midway in the third period with the former just ahead by a hair, 47-46.

First Game

Brabu Gualo Rai 69 – Usi 23, Jose 15, Mallari 8, Mamaril 5, Galzote 5, Samson 4, Dayrit 2, Marchadesch 2.

San Roque 63 – Fernando 24, Bautista 11, Odicta 9, Mi. Achas 12, Claveria 4, Hidalgo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-16, 34-32, 45-47, 69-63.

Second Game

Marianas Water 61 – Capalad 17, Galulu 10, Devero 9, Olivos 8, Siriban 8, Pacheco 4, Casabuena 3.

Mawati 60 – Reyes 15, Gontar 9, Avila 8, Enriquez 7, Ibanes 4, Pena 2, Corotan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-16, 35-26, 51-41.

By Roselyn Monroyo
Reporter