Mawati, Fastbreakers notch wins in DLX caging

  Mawati and Fastbreakers came away the victors of Wednesday’s 2012 Domino Lux Invitational Basketball League matchups held at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Mawati outlasted Aries, 73-64, in the opening feature, while Fastbreakers bested San Roque, 78-69, in the late match.

Meanwhile last Monday, 8th Division defeated Pogi, 74-60, and Pacific Grocers made it past Wushin, 76-72, in overtime.

A pair of 3-pointers by Mawati’s Ramsa Tenepere and Joboy Samonte provided an early 15-14 edge in the opening 10 minutes of Wednesday’s curtainraiser.

The team pressed on, 34-25, at the half thanks to six points apiece by Spam Avila and Jerome Reyes along with another late trey by Tenepere to end the frame.

Aries’ Rod Sacramento led his team with nine markers in the first half and came out with reckless abandon in third quarter for 13 points to pull his team within two baskets, 49-53, heading into crunch time.

However, Mawati’s Harris Enriques and Marlo Ibanez took the reins in the third quarter and combined for a dozen points to maintain control.

Aries grew tired after the third-quarter push and was held to just 15 points in the payoff period, while Mawati’s Webster Gontar chipped in a handful of his side’s 20 in the final minutes to secure the win.

Mawati’s Ibanez led his squad with 18 points, while Aries’ Sacramento topped the field with 23.

In the late tiff, San Roque broke out to an early 20-12 lead built primarily from 12 points by Angelo Fernando.

It looked to be a promising start, but the Fastbreakers battled back in the second quarter and pulled in front, 36-32, at halftime.

Melvin Cadiang matched Fernando’s effort in the second canto and received support from four of his teammates.

Fastbreakers then put the pedal to the metal after intermission and surged ahead, 57-46, heading into the fourth quarter.

Saturno led four others with six points in the uprising as San Roque was stuffed again with 14 points in the third period.

Fastbreakers then buried three long balls in the final period, two of which from Cadiang who led in the clutch with eight points.

He finished with a team-high 30, while San Roque’s Fernando led all scorers with 31.

In Monday’s opener, 8th Division grinded out an early 17-15 edge with a three-ball by Allano to end the first quarter of action.

He nailed a second shot from long range in the second period as his team pushed ahead, 31-27, at halftime.

Harold Aranda led Pogi with 12 points in the first half, while 8th Division’s Rick Alejandro and Daniel Dela Cruz teamed up for 19.

8th Division then enjoyed a 50-41 gap after the third quarter as a handful of players contributed on the offensive end before Rafael Rivera stepped back on the court and put up 16 points in the final stanza.

He finished with 23 points and beat out Pogi’s Jeffrey Bahillio by a bucket as the top scorer of the game. Five 8th Division players finished in double figures.

In the late match, Pacific Grocers romped to an early, 20-8, advantage in the first quarter largely from six points apiece by Mater and Cris Lansang.

Wushin postured back a little and held its opponents to just 10 marks in the second quarter, but Pacific Grocers’ managed to sink six free throws to maintain control, 30-22, at midpoint.

The bulk of their damage came from Lansang and Julius Tabamo who combined for 15 points in the first 20 minutes of the match.

Wushin would not go away, however, and pulled within two possessions, 41-45, heading into the final quarter of regulation.

Wushin’s Orly Ebuen drained a couple of treys to complement contributions from four others, while their defense held Pacific Grocers to a dismal 14 on the other end.

Wushins’ Ferdie Tobias then caught fire and led a fourth-quarter charge with 13 points, which welcomed seven more points in support from George Villasan that resulted in a 62-all deadlock after four frames.

Pacific Grocers managed to share the ball pretty well, however no one stepped up and took control of their offense in prime time, but they regrouped and figured it out in the bonus frame.

Lansang and Tabamo delivered some key baskets in the overtime period, however six free throws made collectively by the squad may have been what secured the victory in the end.

Tabamo finished atop the scoring list with 24 points, while Tobias paced Wushin with 21.

WEDNESDAY

First Game

Mawati 73 – Ibanez 18, Avila 16, Reyes 10, Tenepere 10, Enriques 7, Gontar 5, Corotan 2, Rena 2.

Aries 64 – Sacramento 23, Tenorio 17, Culala 7, Anasan 6, Lester 4, De Luna 3, Ocsillos 2, Sablan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 15-14, 34-25, 53-49, 73-64.

Second Game

Fastbreaker 78 – Cadiang 30, Aranda 13, De Leon 11, Taylor 11, Saturno 8, Isip 2, Pellegrino 2, Olpindo 1.

San Roque 69 – Fernando 31, Salazar 12, Achas 7, Odicta 7, Capuli 5, Villanueva 5, Claveria 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-20, 36-32, 57-46, 78-69.

MONDAY

First Game

8th Division 74 – Rivera 23, Allano 14, Dela Cruz 14, Alejandro 10, Ditera 10, Reyes 2.

Pogi 60 – Je. Bahillio 21, Aranda 16, Ja, Bahillio 11, Alegre 5, Gallardo 4, Lansang 3.

Scoring by quarters: 17-15, 31-27, 50-41, 74-60.

Second Game

Pacific Grocers 76 – Tabamo 24, Saplan 14, Lansang 14, Santos 10, Master 9, Pacson 3, Towun 2.

Wushin 72 – Tobias 21, Tibayan 15, Villasan 13, Ebuen 6, De Belen 5, De Jesus 4, Bautista 2, Farinas 2, Patawaran 2, Schneider 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-8, 30-22, 45-41, 62-62, 76-72 (OT).