Proa still undefeated in UFO Bud Cup

 Namfrel/Marianas Health Services Proa kept its perfect record in the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup after surviving a scare from Cavite/Andok’s, 106-90, on Sunday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

Namfrel/Proa, which now has a 5-0 record, still won by 16 points despite falling behind by as much as 20 points in the second quarter. Cavite, which hung on to a precarious one-point lead at the end of the third period, 68-67, collapsed in the fourth as it ran out of options on offense in the payoff canto.

The Boy Garcia-coached Cavite, which played with only seven players, was held to three points in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter and only two field goals in the first seven minutes. Only Freddie Pelisamen and Peter Camacho scored more than three points for Cavite with the former getting most of his baskets in the closing minutes of the match when Proa had already loosen up its defense. Camacho made only one field goal and canned four free throws. Mike Umali was only the third Cavite player to score in the fourth with his split free throw and an uncontested layup in the last one minute of the game.

While Cavite struggled in the fourth, Proa was on a roll with Pete Iguel and Quincy Johnson alternately hitting long jumpers. The duo combined for 13 straight markers at one point in the fourth quarter, giving Proa its first taste of a double-digit lead, 96-85, with less than three minutes left on the clock.

Johnson also nailed successive baskets early in the fourth, making a triple and a layup to cap Proa’s 9-0 run and turn a 67-68 deficit to a 76-68 advantage. Three free throws from Pelisamen off a foul from Johnson at the 3-point area broke Cavite’s silence, but it was not enough to bring his team back into the game.

Pelisamen waxed hot early, tallying seven points in the first period. J.R. Montano also had seven markers, while Camacho chipped in six, as Cavite took a 26-17 lead after 10 minutes of play.

Cavite then started the second period with three straight triples, two from Dayrit and one from Pelisamen, and another 5-0 run gave Garcia’s wards their biggest lead, 40-20.

Seeing his team in trouble, Iguel tried to bail out Proa, scoring 11 points in the second period and slicing the lead to 10 at the break, 54-44.

Proa continued its uphill climb in the second half and Cavite failed to answer, as it had limited manpower.

Johnson paced Proa with 30 points, while Iguel chipped in 28. Pelisamen led all scorers with his 39 markers, while Camacho finished with 22. Cavite fell to a 1-5 record with two games left and is unlikely to make it to the six-team playoffs.

Cabalen/Noni 97, Bayani/Mobil 87

In the curtain-raiser, Cabalen played steady in the second half en route to a 97-87 win over Bayani/Mobil.

Cabalen improved to a 4-1 record for third place in the team standings, while Mobil dropped its third straight game and fell to a 3-3 mark.

Wowie Abuel and Kae Bernardo teamed up in the win, firing 29 and 26 points, respectively.

The Cabalen shooting guard logged 10 of his 29 points points, giving his team a 74-67 advantage. Cabalen was behind by a deuce at the break, 48-50. Bernardo picked up where Abuel left off in the fourth, posting nine markers in the final canto.

First Game

Cabalen/Noni 97 – Abuel 29, Bernardo 26, Pagarao 13, Yabut 9, Tamayo 7, Basila 6, Demapan 4, Miranda 2.

Bayani/Mobil 87 – Estolas 27, Sharry 17, Moises 12, Lizama 10, Ruluked 8, Gapor 7, Factor 6.

Scoring by quarters: 24-20, 48-50, 74-67, 97-87

Second Game

Namfrel/Proa 106 – Johnson 30, Iguel 28, Barcinas 16, Lizama 15, Chariton 5, Mendiola 2, Valdez 2m Libuw 2, Ogumoro 2.

Cavite/Andok’s 90 – Pelisamen 39, Camacho 22, Dayrit 12, Montano 7, Umali 5, Artates 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-26, 54-44, 67-68, 106-90.