Mobil holds off R-Rebels, 78-73

  Mobil turned it on in the second half against R-Rebels (1-1), 78-73, last Saturday as the 2012 Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League finally got things going this weekend at the Garapan Basketball Court after recent rainfall hindered the start of the season.

In other results, Wanted Sponsor triumphed over Cargo Express, 89-77, in Saturday’s opener, while QQ Rent-A-Car defeated DLX, 84-78, and Hip Hop Thunder outlasted Loving Hands (0-1), 71-62, on Friday.

In the season opener held last May 19, the R-Rebels defeated Ashley, 65-42, before the rain caused a halt to the late night pairing after Loving Hands built a 45-35 halftime lead.

Details of last night’s matches will be released tomorrow.

Mobil worked out an early, 20-16, edge as Jun Estolas and Gyles Ruluked teamed up for 13 points in the first frame.

They kept up the pace in the second quarter and moved in front, 44-36, at the half. Estolas buried two treys for 8 points in the period.

R-Rebels were hardly about to give up and grinded out a 55-54 lead heading into the final period.

R-Rebels held Estolas to just three buckets in the third quarter and kept the rest of the Mobil crew at bay, but still needed someone to take charge on the offensive end.

Estolas rebounded in the clutch and delivered a baker’s dozen that helped secure the win. He took a spill in the last two minutes and bumped his knee, but shook it off through regulation.

Estolas finished heads and shoulders above the field with 33 points, while Ogumoro paced R-Rebels with 13.

In Saturday’s opener, Wanted Sponsors’ Kae Bernardo bruised his way for 8 points complemented by a pair of long balls by Jay-Ar Cadag that gave their team a 26-18 margin in the first period.

Cargo Express, however, struck back and assumed control, 40-37, at the midpoint.

Pete Lizama connected with three bombs from downtown for 13 points in the rally cry.

Then after some adjustments at halftime, Wanted Sponsors’ Gilbert Miranda pumped in 10 points that went with 9 more from Bernardo in the third quarter as they jumped back in the driver’s seat, 66-56, heading into the final canto.

Wanted Sponsors continued to run the court at will and maintained its double-digit lead until the final buzzer.

Wanted Sponsors’ Bernardo and Cargo Express’ Lizama both finished with 23 points.

QQ Rent-A-Car, meanwhile, doubled up DLX, 30-15, in the opening 10 minutes of Friday’s opener as Elgene Mangali and Ichitaro Faisao turned in 9 points apiece.

DLX’s Pando Muleta and Leo Galarse then matched the high-scoring duo in the second quarter as they battled their team back to within three possessions, 48-40, at halftime.

QQ’s Lerio Pagarao erupted for 12 points after intermission to stretch the lead to 70-61 with 10 minutes left in regulation and then sunk seven pressure-packed free throws in the final period to secure the deal.

QQ’s Mangali led three teammates in double figures with 19, while DLX’s Elmer Esdrelon scrambled for a game-high 23 in the loss.

In Friday’s late matchup Hip Hop Thunders’ Ivan Devero dropped a dozen in the opening period to give his team early 19-16 edge.

The Thunder then contained its opponent to just 8 points in the second quarter to preserve a 31-23 halftime lead.

Loving Hands’ Sonny Lerio drained a trio of 3-pointers in a comeback attempt in the third quarter, but it was not enough as the Thunders’ Gino Libuw delivered 7 in response to maintain a 49-45 margin heading into crunch time where Thunders’ Devero ran away with it in the end.

Devero tallied 13 in the final push and finished the game with a game-high 28. Lerio managed 17 in defeat.

R-Rebels’ Fred Litulumar heated up right from the tip way back on opening night with 8 points in the first quarter, but his team found itself behind early, 10-11.

R-Rebels kicked in gear in the second quarter, however and jolted ahead, 32-18, at the break. Six players provided the damage in addition to holding Ashley to just four baskets in the quarter.

R-Rebels trotted out to a 47-28 advantage in the third period as Edwin Camacho paced the group with a handful of markers and they coasted to an easy win in the payoff period.

Litulumar led R-Rebels with 16 points, while Ashley’s Jack Lizama finished with a game-high 17 on the short end.

SATURDAY

First Game

Wanted Sponsor 89 – Bernardo 23, Miranda 20, Sablan 16, Rollon 14, Cadag 8, Pantaleon 8.

Cargo Express 77 – P. Lizama 23, Berline 17, Morales 17, Sharry 6, Francisco 5, Archangel 3, Talania 3, Legaspi 2.

Scoring by quarters: 26-18, 37-40, 66-56, 89-77.

Second Game

Mobil 78 – Estolas 33, Ruluked 17, Fernando 14, Villarin 6, Demapan 5, De Guzman 3.

R-Rebels 73 – Ogumoro 13, Ulloa 11, Norita 8, Lisua 7, Galulu 6, Reyes 6, Teregeyo 6, Camacho 4, Fitial 4, Ichinis 4, Litulumar 3.

Scoring by quarters: 20-16, 44-36, 54-55, 78-73

FRIDAY

First Game

QQ Rent-A-Car 84 – Mangali 19, Faisao 14, B Camacho 12, Pagarao 12, Cruz 7, Palacios 6, Paraiso 5, Sison 4, Bondoc 1.

DLX 78 – Esdrelon 23, Galarse 21, Muleta 9, Abedes 8, David 5, Delarama 3, Fernandez 3, Barbo 2, Guiab 2, Trajano 2.

Scoring by quarters: 30-15, 48-40, 70-61, 84-78.

Second Game

Hip Hop Thunder 71 – Devero 28, Durant 12, Castro 9, Tumaquip 7, Concepcion 6, Sacramento 6.

Loving Hands 62 – Lerio 17, Rabauliman 12, Barrios 9, Aquino 9, Tabora 6, Johannes 4, Abuy 3, Itaas 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-15, 31-23, 49-44, 71-62.

May 19

R-Rebels 65 – Litlulumar 16, Fitial 14, E Camacho 11, Lisua 7, Ogarto 5, Ogumoro 4, Galulu 3, Norita 3, Camacho 2.

Ashley 42 – Lizama 17, Mungcal 9, Inos 7, Ito 3, Mendoza 3, Kapileo 2, Manapim 2.

Scoring by Quarters: 10-11, 32-18, 47-28, 65-42.