PIC, Fiesta dispatch separate foes

Pacific Island Club’s Jack Aranda, center, tries to get past four World Resort defenders in their game in the 2014 Budweiser Inter-Hotel Basketball League Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Jon Perez)

PIC needed a strong second half in completing a come-from-behind 87-84 win over World Resort, while Fiesta eliminated Kanoa Resort, 81-77, in a pair of equally important matches.

PIC trailed the entire first half and even stared at an 11-point deficit, 23-12, in the opening quarter.

But behind Jack Aranda and James Abuy, who combined for 18 points in the second period with the latter draining consecutive 3-pointers, PIC cut World Resort’s lead to 46-45 at the turn.

Bryl Alegre then took over in the third, knocking in 10 points as PIC outscored World Resort to enjoy a 70-60 spread entering the final canto.

PIC played with a lot of composure in the fourth quarter, protecting its lead by quashing every World Resort comeback try.

Aranda scattered 22 points to pace PIC’s scoring with Alegre adding 19 markers, while Jake Quitugua had 14. Abuy and Ray Babauta finished with 12 and 11 points each.

Team captain Dennis Vinas led World Resort’s losing cause with 20 points, while John Lewis Sr., Jomar Danas, and Eugene Manglona contributed 18, 17, and 16 markers, respectively.

In the second game, top seed Fiesta also fortified its finals chances with a hard-earned 81-77 victory over Kanoa Resort.

Lerio Pagarao and Djay Ong alternated in draining timely baskets for Fiesta the entire match to frustrate Kanoa all night.

Pagarao and Ong tallied 20 and 19 points, while Jarrett Matsotaro and Elmer Esdrelon made 14 and 11 markers, respectively.

Matt Duenas and Dindo Pablo combined for 44 points in Kanoa’s losing cause while Fred Litulumar chipped in 10.

The road to the championship, however, is rather confusing as PIC, which is undefeated in the playoffs, will face Fiesta with the former needing a win to earn a finals ticket. A loss by PIC will force a knockout match with Fiesta.

World Resort, which absorbed its first loss in the playoff round, will face Shirley’s-Century Hotel with the winner automatically earning a finals berth.

First Game
PIC 87 – Aranda 22, Alegre 19, Quitugua 14, Abuy 12, Babauta 11, Barbo 3, Buchun 2, Del Rosario 2, Remillosa 2.

World Resort 84 – Vinas 20, Lewis 18, Danas 17, Manglona 16, Bernardo 8, Espiritu 3, Valle 2.

Scoring by quarters: 12-23, 45-46, 70-60, 87-84.

Second Game
Fiesta Resort 81 – Pagarao 20, Ong 19, Matsutaro 14, Esdrelon 11, Macoto 6, Quizon 4, Alokoa 3, Galag 2.

Kanoa Resort 77 – Duenas 22, Pablo 22, Litulumar 10, Armia 8, Barba 7, Usi 4, Lumauwag 2, Villalursa 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-12, 40-34, 64-55, 81-77.