Proa sails way to finals

 What started as a cruise for Proa ended in a tough ride.

Namfrel/Proa needed to survive Mobil’s second-quarter run and hit clutch shots in the closing seconds to thwart the hard-fighting Bayani/Mobil, 110-105, in their semis duel in the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup on Thursday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

The victory allowed Proa to advance to the finals where they will battle the winner of tomorrow’s playoff game between Cavite/Andok’s and defending champion MAFEA-Ali’i Konflikt.

Proa had a jackrabbit start, leading at 25-4, but was threatened in the second quarter, 47-46, and then was forced to a deadlock in the fourth period, 105-all, before Pete Iguel and Dan Barcinas made crucial baskets to save the team from sinking.

Jun Estolas canned a booming triple from the left key for the first tie of the match, 105-all, 31 seconds to go in the match. Proa went for a quick inbound after Estolas’ basket with Iguel sprinting to their froncourt. He pulled up for a 10-footer and drew contact from Mobil’s Jorge De Guzman, who was then called for a blocking foul. Mobil coach Marvin Deocares contested the call, saying Iguel should be slapped with an offensive foul, but referee Gilbert Espino charged the foul to De Guzman.

Iguel calmly sank both charities, giving Proa a 107-105 lead, 28.7 seconds left on the clock. Mobil sued for time and when game ensued it failed to complete a play centered on Estolas. Proa read Mobil’s play well, as Estolas called for an isolation from the left key. Proa’s defense then guarded the right key well, forcing Estolas to bring the ball to the left wing and the Mobil guard had to twist his shot in midair on his way to the basket and missed.

Proa grabbed the offensive rebound and Dan Barcinas finished the play with a fastbreak layup, upping his team’s lead to four, 109-105, 10.9 seconds to go in the match.

Mobil leaned on Estolas anew in the remaining seconds, but muffed his 3-point attempts, while Iguel sealed the win with a split from the free throw line.

Deocares’ wards spent the whole evening catching up and although it did a gallant stand against Proa, Mobil ran out of gas in the end to join VisMinda/Satbahi in the showers.

Iguel top-scored for Proa with 32 points, knocking in 10 markers in the first quarter where he and Barcinas gave Namfrel a whopping 21-point lead, 25-4.

After being limited to three field goals in the first six minutes of play, Mobil closed out the opening canto strong with Estolas hitting a trey in the remaining seconds and cutting the lead to 13, 17-30.

Mobil continued working its way back in the game in the second period as Estolas drew help from Leo Factor and Gyles Ruluked. A completed 3-point play from Estolas moved Mobil to within one, 46-47, but a 10-4 windup in the last two minutes of the second period kept Proa on top at halftime, 57-50.

Proa then went on to weather the storm in the second half, leading 91-74 after the third behind the two triples of Josh Sablan. Sablan, who came off the bench in the second half, kicked off the fourth with another trey, putting Proa’s lead back to 20, 94-74.

Estolas refused to give up and led another Mobil rally, but fell short in the closing seconds. He finished with a game-high 48 points. Ruluked and Factor nailed 21 and 12, but had limited touches in the final canto.

Namfrel/Proa 110 – Iguel 32, Barcinas 19, Lizama 10, Sablan 10, Mendiola 8, Libuw 7, Johnson 7, Chariton 5, Babauta 4, Ogumoro 3.

Bayani/Mobil 105 – Estolas 48, Ruluked 21, Factor 12, De Guzman 8, Lizama 8, Gamboa 5.

Scoring by quarters: 30-27, 57-50, 91-74, 110-110-105.