Mobil/JP World takes DL caging opener

Mobil/JP World’s James Villacrusis goes up for an undergoal shot against San Antonio’s Erick Dela Rosa, left and Prince Factor, partly hidden, during the first quarter of the opening game in the DL caging last Saturday at the San Antonio court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mobil/JP World stole the thunder from defending champion San Antonio Patriots in the opening game of the DL Corp Invitational Basketball League Season 5 after coasting to an 85-69 victory last Saturday at the San Antonio court.

Mobil/JP World took early control of the opener and leaned on its balance offense to stun San Antonio, which ruled Season 4 of the league after routing Hite Jinro in the finals, 85-70.

Mike Villacrus scored 5 straight points just two minutes into the match and got another field goal for an 11-4 Mobil/JP World advantage, while Elgene Mangali capped the opening canto with back-to-back triples to give their team a double-digit spread, 25-14. Lerio Pagarao also helped out in Mobil/JP World’s good start, as he came off the bench and added 6 markers.

Pagarao kept going in the last three periods, as punished San Antonio’s defense with his daredevil drives, while the rest of his teammates also contributed to keep Mobil/JP World’s safe distance.

Pagarao and three other Mobil/JP World players drilled at least two baskets apiece in the second canto to stretch their lead to 16 at the break, 42-26. San Antonio failed to score in the 20s anew in the second frame, as it logged only 12 makers and was limited to four field goals with only Jack Aranda canning more than one basket in that period.

San Antonio improved its scoring in the third canto, but Mobil/JP World matched the former’s 23-point output to retain the 16-point advantage, 65-49, entering the final frame. Pagarao added 8 more points in the third, while Juan Camacho also had 8 markers, and Sid Quan chipped in 4 to foil San Antonio’s bid to bring the deficit down to single digit.

Pagarao went on to finish strong, firing 9 of Mobil/JP World’s last 13 markers. He ended up with a game-high 29 points, while four of his teammates also had double figures. Villacrusis and Camacho recorded 12 markers apiece and Mangali and Chris Lilles logged 11 and 10, respectively.

Aranda and Erick Dela Rosa paced San Antonio, scoring 12 each. Mike Arciaga and Prince Factor also registered twin digits with 10 apiece, but they could not make baskets in streaks and that had been the story for the defending champion.

Meanwhile, the second game in the opening day was rain-halted at the 4:08 mark of the third quarter with Ghasias Brothers leading Kauila Enterprises, 59-50.

Freddie Pelisamen banners Ghasias Brothers and has already scored 19 points when the match was stopped. Jorge De Guzman led Kauila, making 12 markers, including his team’s last basket before organizers decided to call it a night.

Mobil/JP World 85 — Pagarao 29, Villacrusis 12, Camacho 12, Mangali 11, Lilles 10, Borja 5, Quan 4, Cortez 2.

San Antonio 69 — Aranda 12, Dela Rosa 12, Arciaga 10, Factor 10, De Guzman 7, Flores 6, Rabasto 6, Feria 2, Barbo 2, Saturno 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-14, 42-26, 65-49, 85-69.