San Antonio thwarts Natural Mystic

San Antonio withstood Natural Mystic’s late rally for a 79-74 win in the second game in the 2014 MDX Amateur Radio Club Basketball League last Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Bryle Alegre and Jack Aranda hit game-saving baskets to tow San Antonio to its second victory in as many games and foil Natural Mystic’s bid to enter the win column. Alegre and Aranda scored San Antonio’s last two field goals.

The San Antonio forward’s undergoal stab gave the team more breathing room, 77-74, after Natural Mystic moved within 1, 74-75, going into the last 1:05 of the fourth quarter. San Antonio once held an 8-point lead, 75-67, 2:37 left in the game before Natural Mystic launched a quick 7-0 run capped by Alex Standish’s basket in the paint against a throng of defenders.

Sensing trouble, San Antonio sued for time and when the game resumed, it went to its money man Alegre, who canned a shot down low against two Natural Mystic defenders. Natural Mystic quickly went for an inbound after Alegre’s field goal and Dan Barcinas pulled up for a triple from the left key, but missed.

San Antonio’s Emerson Feria took the long rebound and threw an outlet to Jack Aranda, who went for a fastbreak play against Standish. The San Antonio guard rammed into the defense of Standish, but kept his balance and hit a banked shot to seal the deal, less than 20 seconds left in the game.

Alegre top-scored for San Antonio with his 22 points, while Feria added 12, and Nevin Salem and Ezra Caro chipped in 10 apiece. Barcinas had 20 points for Natural Mystic, which got 19 and 17 markers, respectively, from Ben Lisua and Standish.

Docomo 96, Armatech 74
In the first game, Docomo also improved to a 2-0 record after beating Armatech (1-1).

A 33-12 scoring run in the pivotal third period allowed Docomo to rout Armatech. Before its explosion at the start of the second half, Docomo was on top by only 5 points, 42-37.

Tony Diaz led the breakaway, as he knocked 10 of his 22 points in the third frame. Eight other Docomo players hit the board in the game-deciding third canto, while only Martin Moreno scored more than one field goal for the stunned Armatech. Moreno had 6 points in that quarter and got a little help from only two teammates.

With comfortable 74-49 lead, going into the fourth period, Docomo was content on trading baskets with Armatech en route to its 22-point winning margin.

First Game
Docomo 96 – Diaz 22, Bisana 12, Paraiso 10, J. Camacho 10, Sanchez 8, White 8, Sanciangco 7, Hayes 6, Villacrusis 4, Sison 4, D. Camacho 2.
Armatech 74 – Moreno 20, Montano 10, Abuy 16, Berline 9, Malasarte 8, Poquiz 1.
Scoring by quarters: 20-17, 52-37, 75-49, 96-74.

Second Game
San Antonio 79 – Alegre 22, Feria 12, Caro 10, Salem 10, De Guzman 9, Aranda 7, J. Villanueva 2, Espinosa 2.

Natural Mystic 74 – Barcinas 20, Lisua 19, Standish 17, Deleon Guerrero 9, Ulloa 3, Litulumar 3, Reyes 3.

Scoring by quarters: 15-15, 38-27, 59-56, 79-74.