PIC hands GMJ/IKKI first loss

Pacific Islands Club banked on their free throw shooting in the homestretch to beat GMJ/IKKI Wholesale, 80-72, during their open division game in the 2015 San Antonio Community Action Network Basketball League last Monday night at the San Antonio court.

Pacific Islands Club’s Mike Espinosa, left, is fouled by a GMJ/IKKI Wholesale player during the closing minutes of their open division game in the San Antonio caging last Monday night at the San Antonio court.
(Roselyn B. Monroyo)

PIC scored its last 8 points from the foul line to foil GMJ/IKKI Wholesale’s comeback bid and hand the latter its first loss in five games. PIC improved to a 2-1 record.

Jack Aranda went 5-for-6 from the stripe, Mike Espinosa made a split, and James Abuy added a pair to avoid a PIC collapse in the closing minutes of the match.

PIC saw its once 8-point advantage, 70-62, trimmed to a deuce, 70-72, as GMJ/IKKI Wholesale launched a short 8-2 rally capped by a triple from Jose Oyola, entering the final two-minute mark of the game. GMJ/IKKI Wholesale then had a chance to either tie the match with a 2-pointer or grab the lead with a triple after another PIC miss on the other end, but the former made a couple of defensive stops to keep its shaky lead. Aranda challenged a trey from Mark Ferrer, whose shot hit nothing but air, while Barbo blocked another 3-point attempt from the GMJ/IKKI Wholesale guard. After those two misses, GMJ/IKKI Wholesale was left with a second left on its 24-second shot clock and it failed to get a shot in time, as Oyola still took one dribble before pulling up for a shot after getting the inbound pass from Marlon Sison.

PIC finally got the possession after GMJ/IKKI Wholesale’s infraction, but Abuy muffed a triple in the ensuing play. Fortunately for PIC, GMJ/IKKI Wholesale lost the leather on the other end, as Barbo tapped away Oyola’s pass to Ignacio Borja and Espinosa picked up the loose ball and was fouled by Elgene Mangali on a fastbreak play.

Espinosa faltered on his first free throw attempt, but made the second one and that started the string of charities for PIC, while GMJ/IKKI Wholesale committed two more errors to kiss its bid for a perfect record goodbye.

Mangali’s crosscourt pass to Oyola hit Ignacio and the ball rolled out of the sideline, while Aranda added a pair of free throws after GMJ/IKKI Wholesale was forced to give up fouls.

A quick 2 from Allison Dizon kept GMJ/IKKI Wholesale in the game, 72-75, down to the last 31.5 seconds and it had another opportunity to move closer after Sean Rabasto went 0-for-2 from the line in the ensuing play. However, after Juan Camacho collared the rebound, his pitch to Sison was anticipated by Jake Quitugua.

After another miscue, GMJ/IKKI Wholesale had no choice but to foul PIC again to stop the clock. Aranda made two more free throws and later had a split after another miss by their opponents to make it a 78-72 cushion, just 17.1 seconds remaining on the clock. Camacho overshot his mark in the ensuing play and GMJ/IKKI Wholesale gave up another foul that sent Abuy to the stripe for the icing on the cake.

Abuy was one of the three PIC players who broke in double figures with his 18. Quitugua had a game-high 20 markers, while Barbo chipped in 15, and Rabasto and Aranda combined for 18.

Camacho had 15 for GMJ/IKKI Wholesale, which played without Josue Melendez and Chris Estevez.

GMJ/IKKI Wholesale played catch up in the fourth quarter after PIC outgunned them in the last four minutes of the third, 12-2, to turn a 47-48 deficit to a 59-50 advantage.

Meanwhile, in the second open division game last Saturday, Maplas barged into the win column after a 0-3 start following a 79-50 demolition of the winless 5-Star Construction (0-3).

Monday Game
PIC 80 – Quitugua 20, Abuy 18, Barbo 15, Rabasto 9, Aranda 9, Espinosa 7, Feria 2.

GMJ/IKKI 72 – Camacho 15, Mangali 11, Barrios 9, Villacrusis 9, Ferrer 7, Oyola 6, Cortez 4, Borja 4, T. Montes 4, Dizon 3.

Scoring by quarters: 17-11, 31-35, 59-50, 80-72.

Saturday Game
Maplas 79 – Viray 31, R. Rueda 21, Lacson 6, Aniciete 5, Baluyot 4, Quinto 3, Jumaquio 4, Odicta 4, J. Rueda 2.

5-Star 50 – Munar 16, Penalba 11, Boglie 11, Cataluna 6, Bermiso 4, Murillo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 25-18, 38-27, 57-30, 79-50.