MBI/Anchor forces do-or-die Game 3

Micronesian Brokers, Inc. lived for another day, following a 93-89 win over Shirley’s Coffee Shop in Game 2 of their best-of-three title showdown in the 2014 JP World Corp. Customer Appreciation Basketball League last Friday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

MBI/Anchor ended Shirley’s 10-game winning streak in the inaugural league and more importantly forced the deciding Game 3, which will be played today at 7pm. MBI/Anchor controlled Game 2 right at the buzzer and withstood Shirley’s fourth-quarter rally to tie the short finals series.

Shirley’s, which won Game 1, 89-80, fell behind by as much as 18 points before cutting the deficit to three, but ran out of time to finish the series. It threatened MBI/Anchor with a 16-3 scoring run for about five minutes with Elmer Esdrelon capping the rally with back-to-back triples, the second one bouncing back inside the rim to move Shirley’s within five, 78-83, with 2:23 left in the match.

Shirley’s had a chance to inch in closer when MBI/Anchor faltered another shot on the other end, but there was a miscue in the former’s offensive set with Joseph Aguilar getting the pass intended to Matt Duenas and pulling up for a baseline jumper. Aguilar missed, paving the way for White Capalad’ s fastbreak attack. Capalad missed the layup, as he was fouled by Sean Rabasto, but he made both charities to give MBI/Anchor more cushion, 85-78, going into the last two minutes of the match.

MBI/Anchor then cashed in on two more field goals and three free throws to bring the lead back to twin digits, but Shirley’s refused to wave the white flag, hitting three of their last four baskets from downtown. Rabasto drained the third triple to cut the deficit to three, 89-92, but only 7.5 seconds were left in the game with MBI/Anchor having the possession.

With the clock ticking, Shirley’s was forced to give up a foul and send Capalad to the 15-foot line. Capalad, who earlier went 2-for-2 from the stripe this time made a split to seal the win. He missed the second shot and there was a battle for the loose ball as time run out.

Angelo Fernando top-scored for MBI/Anchor in Game 2 with his 28 points. Ivan Devero, who was held to single digit in Game 1, had 18 to match Capalad’s output, while Pete Lizama chipped in 15. All four hit the board for MBI/Anchor right in the first period where the team went on a 9-2 scoring to set up the pace of the match.

The opening frame ended with MBI/Anchor enjoying a double-digit advantage, 23-13, and it padded the lead in the next three quarters with Justin Zapanta, Art Trajano, and Andy Viola also contributing off the bench. Trajano and Viola also dominated the board with Shirley’s playing Game 2 minus big man Erick Dela Rosa, who was suspended for the rest of the series for an unsportsmanlike conduct in the series opener last Monday.

With Fernando and company hitting their targets consistently in the first three periods, Shirley’s played catch up all night and fell short, as only Duenas and Esdrelon caught fire for the team. Duenas had a game-high 30 points, but was held to 4 points in the fourth as he played without relief, while Esdrelon tallied 29.

Rabasto also finished in twin digits for Shirley’s with his 11, but he could not get baskets in streaks. Lerio Pagarao was the fourth Shirley’s player to break in double figures with his 10 points, but he had more misses than conversions, as his flashy moves did not work against MBI/Anchor.

MBI/Anchor 93 – Fernando 28, Devero 18, Capalad 18, Lizama 15, Zapanta 6, Trajano 4, Diola 4.

Shirley’s 89 – Duenas 20, Esdrelon 29, Rabasto 11, Pagarao 10, Usi 4, Jugos 2.

Scoring by quarters: 23-13, 52-38, 70-57, 93-89