Ridhors, Black Mamba secure playoff berths

Tropang Ridhors’ Ken Viray, right, goes up for an acrobatic shot against White Haus’ Darwin Barbo during the second quarter of their game in the IT&E-sponsored Ali’i Blue Haus caging last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Ken Viray reported back for duty, towing Tropang Ridhors to an 89-79 victory over White Haus in the second game in the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League last Saturday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Viray, who was absent in Ridhors’ 76-80 loss to Green Minded last Wednesday, exploded for 33 points in his return, helping his team secure a playoff berth in the 12-squad field. Ridhors is done in the elimination round, holding a 7-4 record for third place in the team standings. Only the Top 8 squads after the round-robin regular season will move to the playoffs.

John Paul Morales supported Viray, adding 29 markers. The two guards teamed up in bringing Ridhors back into the match after White Haus threatened a breakaway, leading by 12 early in the second quarter, 37-25.

The second canto began with Ridhors on top, 23-19, before White Haus spread the wealth and went on a 16-2 scoring run in the first five minutes of that period. Ridhors sued for time to prevent White Haus from causing further damage and when the game resumed, the former countered with its own rally. Morales and Viray combined for 10 points in the 15-1 surge to put Ridhors on the driver’s seat anew, 40-38, and the lead increased to 6, 46-40, as the latter closed out the first half with three straight field goals.

Viray and Morales then continued to trade baskets for Ridhors in the second half to keep the squad’s safe distance against White Haus.

Joining Ridhors to the next round is Black Mamba, which sealed a playoff berth after downing the Green Archers, 86-75.

Black Mamba is in second place in the team standings with its 7-2 slate, while the Green Archers are still winless in nine games and have been eliminated.

Alex Lauron and Mel Capalad powered Black Mamba past the Green Archers with the former firing a game-high 34 points and the latter contributing 26. Black Mamba led right from the get-go, making it hard for the Green Archers to enter the win column.

Second Game
Tropang Ridhors 89 — Viray 33, Morales 27, Dayrit 7, Guiab 6, Surima 4, Fernandez 4, Acosta 4.
White Haus 79 — Tabora 26, Barbo 17, Mateo 12, Ocampo 8, Quizon 6, Gracia 2, Nonato 2, Villasan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 23-19, 46-40, 68-56, 89-79.

Third Game
Black Mamba 86 — Lauron 34, Capalad 26, Brien 11, Ibanez 8, Echavez 3, William 2.
Green Archers 75 — Ferrer 21, Danipog 20, Tolentino 15, Enriquez 12, Mendiola 7.
Scoring by quarters: 20-11, 40-33, 68-56, 86-75.