NVM holds off Hip Hop Thunder in Blue Haus caging

  Some late transition strikes in the fourth quarter lifted NVM past Hip Hop Thunder, 79-65, during the Division B game in the 2012 Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League last Saturday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

NVM improved to a 2-1 record, while the Thunder dropped to a 1-3 card.

NVM rung in a couple of early three-pointers for a 15-8 favor in the opening period and stretched the lead to 36-20 at halftime. Jawn Joyner led the uprise with nine points, while Dan Mateo scrambled for 11 on the other end to keep the Thunder alive.

Mateo’s effort inspired teammate Ivan Devero to drop 14 points in the third quarter and pull the group within a basket, 51-53, heading into the final period.

Devero tallied eight more points early in the fourth quarter, but the group fell out of sync in the final five minutes.

Meanwhile, NVM’s Dan Barcinas caught a second wind and ran the court for 10 big points in the clutch, including a sign-off trey in the last minutes to pretty much caused their opponents to throw in the towel.

Barcinas finished with 20 points to pace NVM, while Devero fronted the box score with 28.

R-Rebels 84, QQ Rent A Car 61

In the first game last Saturday, the R-Rebels whipped QQ Rent A Car, 84-61.

R-Rebels shot out of the gate for an early 30-16 margin in the first quarter. Trevor Ogumoro and Ben Lisua led the early charge with six points apiece.

The R-Rebels were not finished and unloaded another assault in the second quarter, while limiting QQ Rent A Car to just seven points in the period. The R-Rebels buried three more from downtown and also drew contributions from Kelvin Fitial to enjoy a 46-23 advantage at midpoint before QQ trimmed the deficit to 10 48-58, heading into crunch time. Elgene Mangali led the third-quarter charge with a baker’s dozen.

A pair of three-pointers kept R-Rebels in control and stopped QQ’s rally. Fitial muscled his way for eight points in the final period and finished with a team-high 17, while Mangali topped the field with 23.

THURSDAY
Loving Hands 73, Saipan Hardware 67

In the Thursday opener, Loving Hands Daycare (2-1) overcame Saipan Hardware (2-1).

Loving Hands fell behind early, 10-16, but came back in the second quarter and surged ahead at halftime, 40-27. Yosh Gabaldon and Sonny Lerio nailed three triples apiece in the first half and the latter finished the break with 16 points.

Saipan Hardware faced a 13-point halftime deficit as it got most of its buckets from Alex Lauron and Tim Quan. The duo was then held to just eight points in the third quarter as Loving Hands pulled away, 52-39,

In the fourth quarter, Saipan Hardware connected with three strikes from behind the arch to threaten a comeback, but Loving Hands sunk two bombs on the other end and made seven free throws to secure the victory.

Lerio turned in a game-high 21 points, while Quan and Lauron combined for 34 on the short end.

DLX 66, Ashley’s 61

In the second game, DLX edged Ashley’s.

DLX assumed control in the first quarter with three early bird killers for a promising 17-4 lead.

However, Ashley’s roared back to within a basket at the half, 29-31, thanks to a pair of long range strikes from Wowie Abuel and Randy Mungcal and contributions from their four other teammates in the second quarter.

DLX saved a two-point halftime lead with Elmer Esdrelon scoring 10 points in the first half.

Noel David came off the bench for DLX and delivered a handful of markers in the third quarter, while Esdrelon, Darwin Barbo, and Junar Guiab added four apiece to keep the driver’s seat, 50-46, heading into the final canto.

Jack Lizama mustered seven points in the third to help keep Ashley’s in the game, but was held to two buckets in the payoff period, failing to give support to Edmark Mendoza, who scored six points late in the game.

Esdrelon and Barbo buried a pair of pressured free throws, while Sam Fernandez canned the final charity to seal the deal. Esdrelon finished with a team-high 16, while Lizama led all scorers with 19.

SATURDAY
First Game

R-Rebels 84 – Fitial 17, Lisua 14, Ogumoro 13, Ulloa 8, E. Camacho 7, Teregeyo 7, Reyes 5, Ichnis 4, Norita 4, Hambros 3, Nawaz 2, Litulumar 2.

QQ Rent A Car 62 – Mangali 23, Faisao 11, Sison 9, Pagarao 7, B. Camacho 5, Paraiso 4, Cruz 2

Scoring by quarters: 30-16, 46-23, 58-48, 84-61.

Second Game

NVM 79 – Barcinas 20, Joyner 19, Mendiola 14, Basa 13, Manibusan 6, Mina 2, Ritual 2, Cadiang 2, Deleon 1.

Hip Hop Thunder 65 – I. Devero 28, D. Mateo 11, Libuw 6, Sacramento 8, C. Devero 4, N. Mateo 3, Concepcion 2, Tumaquip 2, Castro 1.

Scoring by quarters: 15-8, 36-27, 53-51, 79-65.

THURSDAY
First Game

Loving Hands 73 – Lerio 21, Gabaldon 16, Rabauliman 7, Aquino 6, Barrios 6, Johannes 8, Tabora 5, Jugos 4.

Saipan Hardware 67 – Quan 18, Lauron 16, R. Babauta 7, D. Tenorio 6, Z. Diaz 4, Palacios 4, Park 4, Peredo 4, Z. Babauta 2, J. Diaz 2

Scoring by quarters: 10-16, 40-27, 52-39, 73-67.

Second Game

DLX 66 – Esdrelon 16, Barbo 14, Guiab 10, David 9, Galarse 5, Abedes 4, Muleta 2, Fernandez 1.

Ashley’s 61 – J. Lizama 19, Mendoza 10, Ito 9, Mungcal 8, Cortez 8, Abuel 7.

Scoring by quarters: 17-4, 31-29, 50-46, 66-61.