Red Rice boosts playoff bid

Red Rice remained in the playoff hunt in the 2015 Blue Haus/IT&E Inter-Color Basketball League after downing Oh My J, 73-64, yesterday at the Navy Hill court.

Red Rice’s Michael Cabanas is sandwiched by Oh My J’s Junar Guiab, left, and Mark Asuhan, during the second half of their game in the Blue Haus-IT&E caging yesterday at the Navy Hill court. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Red Rice improved to a 3-3 record for sixth place in the team standings, while Oh My J dropped from fourth to fifth with its 4-3 slate. Mamba (5-2), Makalaro Lang (5-2), Pasion De Amor (4-2), Hard Kulangot (3-2), Purple Rain (2-4), Kidlat (1-4), and Eh Di Wow (0-5) complete the standings. Of the nine teams, the bottom two will be eliminated, while the Top 7 will advance to the playoff round with the No. 1 finisher getting an automatic semis berth.

Oh My J is out of the running for the top spot after failing to complete a comeback bid against Red Rice in the closing minutes of the match. Oh My J fell behind by as much as 9, 50-59, with still five minutes left in the game, but trimmed the deficit to 4 points, 58-62, with Junar Guiab scoring 6 in the team’s 8-3 exchange against Red Rice in the next three minutes.

A 3-point play from Michael Cabanas gave Red Rice more breathing room, 58-65, but Oh My J refused to wave the white flag, cutting the lead to 6, 61-67, after Ferdie Tobias countered Angelo Fernando’s layup with a triple from the right key, going into the final minute of the match.

Oh My J had a chance to move closer when Red Rice lost possession in the ensuing play, but the former failed to capitalize on the error, muffing point-blanked shots on three straight occasions. The first one came from Robert Sanciangco, who got a pass from Tobias after the Red Rice miscue for a fastbreak layup, however, the former’s attempt was a bit short. Sanciangco collared the offensive rebound and went for a putback, but to no avail. Oh My J had another offensive board with Tobias going over the head of Joseph Achas, but the quarterback also missed on his bank shot.

Finally, Darwin Barbo got the rebound for Red Rice and fed Cabanas for the fastbreak layup that secured the win for them, 69-61, going into the last 32 seconds of the match.

Cabanas sizzled for 27 points, while Achas and Fernando also scored in double figures with 17 and 16, respectively. Guiab had 14 points to lead Oh My J.

Red Rice 73 – Cabanas 27, Achas 17, Fernando 16, Chan 7, Barbo 4, Anasan 2.

Oh My J 64 – Guiab 14, Mateo 11, Asuhan 8, Sanciangco 7, Tobias 7, Galulu 5, Manangan 5, Sablan 2.

Scoring by halves: 39-33, 73-64.