Pelicans, Docomo whip opponents

The Pelicans’ Trevor Ogumoro goes for a fallaway jumper against three Maplas defenders during the fourth quarter of their game in the DL Corp. caging last Tuesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Docomo walloped Puerto Rico Bento in the first match, 123-100, while the Pelicans crushed Maplas, 100-84. Docomo and the Pelicans finished the round-robin tournament with similar 4-4 records for a tie for fourth to sixth place with TBK Mechanics and advanced to the playoffs. Puerto Rico fell to a 1-7 slate and must pray for an Olivos Team (1-6) loss to Shocker Nation tonight to make the cut.

Puerto Rico stayed in contention for the last playoff berth, as it was behind by only 7 points after the third period, 81-88. However, Docomo hit the gas in the fourth canto to spoil Puerto Rico’s bid. Docomo fired 35 points, its biggest in the match, with Tony Diaz drilling one basket after another. Diaz scored a season-high 47 points, 12 of them came in the fourth frame. Jason Hayes also had 12 markers in the final period and finished with 27 points. Robert Sanciangco was the third Docomo player to score at least 20 markers with his 21.

In the second game, the Pelicans also turned on the heat in the fourth quarter to take the 16-point victory. Ahead by only 8 after the third period, 73-65, Trevor Ogumoro drilled 7 early points in the fourth canto to open an 89-69 advantage, 6:30 left on the clock. It was cruise control from the Pelicans from thereon, while Maplas managed to bring the lead down to as low as 12 points in the closing minutes of the match after collecting garbage points.

Ogumoro top-scored for the Pelicans with 26 points, while Edwin Camacho and Luizi Reyes chipped in 17 apiece.

With the Pelicans tied with TBK and Docomo for the fourth to sixth place, a quotient system will be in effect to determine the owner of the No. 4 spot. The winner in the tiebreaker will join the No. 3 squad in a bye for the first round of the playoffs. The Top 2 teams will automatically advance to the semis and the unbeaten San Antonio (7-0) has secured the first semis seat. Shocker Nation (5-2) and Island Manpower (6-1) will battle for the last outright semis ticket. A Shocker Nation victory over Olivos tonight and a loss by Manpower to San Antonio will force a tie for the second spot. In case of a tie, Shocker Nation will have the edge because it defeated Island Manpower in their lone meeting this season.

First Game
Docomo 123 – Diaz 47, Hayes 27, Sanciangco 21, Sison 10, White 7, Tudela 2.
Puerto Rico 100 – Fitial 33, Saplan 29, Salalila 21, Fernandez 6.
Scoring by quarters: 29-31, 61-57, 88-81, 123-120.

Second Game
Pelicans 100 – Ogumoro 26, Camacho 17, Reyes 17, Yamada 15, Lampkin 8, Weng 6, Santos 4, Babauta 2.
Maplas 84 – Fernando 21, Lontoc 18, Yalung 10, Usi 9, Paraiso 9, Odicta 6, Aniciete 3.
Scoring by quarters: 29-21, 41-44, 73-65, 100-84.