Two in row for Docomo; KFC shares lead

  Docomo and KFC notched their second straight win after downing separate foes in the 2012 DLX/DL JOS Inter-Color Basketball League Monday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

KFC played in the curtain raiser and hand the Fastbreakers their first loss, 78-53, while Docomo endured AD 31 in the night cap, 60-53. Both winners moved up to the team standings with KFC gaining a share of the lead with the Fastbreakers in Pool B after posting a 5-1 record and Docomo climbing up from seventh to sixth place in Pool A.

Docomo led by as much 15 in the closing minutes of the third, but rushed its shots in the fourth quarter, allowing AD 31 to cut the deficit to single digit, 50-57, with 1:20 left on the clock.

It was a long 1:20, as teams traded fouls and errors in the ensuing plays. AD 31 went on to fall short on its comeback bid after going 1-for-8 from the foul line, while Docomo saved the win, following a 3-for-10 shooting from the stripe.

Joseph Achas paced Docomo with his 14 points, making two triples late in the third to lead the team’s 15-2 windup in the last three minutes of that quarter. Docomo was ahead by only five, 40-35 when AD 31 went cold, while Achas and Resty Joson combined for 12 points in the rally for a 50-37 advantage at the end of the third period.

However, Docomo slowly lost the double-digit advantage as it took hurried shots. Fortunately for Docomo, AD 31 was also too fast for its own good and muffed crucial charities with Sacramento turning the ball over on several occasions and Dexter Tenorio going 1-for-8 at the foul line in the closing minute and Buboy Sablan missing a pair.

Lester Vertudez led AD 31 with his 19 markers, drilling nine of them in the fourth to lead the team’s foiled comeback attempt.

In the first game, KFC capitalized on a depleted Fastbreakers crew to end the latter’s winning run.

The Fastbreakers missed Niko Salem and Kevin De Leon, while Jack Aranda came in only in the closing minutes of the third period with KFC in full control of the match.

With the Fastbreakers’ key players absent, KFC took a 28-14 lead at the end of the first period. Jeff Durant muscled his way in the paint early, scoring 10 of his 20 points in the opening canto.

KFC slowed down in the second, but kept the big lead at the break, 40-21, as the Fastbreakers continued to bleed for points, making only two field goals. Aranda reported to the game late in the third and scored four points, but JR Deleon Guerrero was there to retain KFC’s twin-digit lead, 58-40, firing 9 of his 12 in that canto.

KFC hung in there in the fourth period, as no Fastbreakers players stepped up for Salem and De Leon and Aranda added only four more points.

First Game

KFC 78 – Durant 20, Francisco 13, Deleon Guerrero 12, Omnes 11, Salas 9, Maranan 8, Lee 7, Daria 3.

Fastbreakers 53 – Cadiang 15, Palacios 8, Aranda 8, Saturno 5, Isip 5, Manangan 4, Olfindo 2, Taylor 2, Pelegrino 2, Cascavel 2.

Scoring by quarters: 28-14, 40-29, 58-40, 78-53.

Second Game

Docomo 60 – Achas 14, Joson 12, Usi 11, Gomez 10, Tengco 5, Cultura 4, Enriquez 2, Lazardo 2.

AD 31 53 – Vertudez 19, Sacramento 18, Tenorio 7, Anasan 5, Sablan 2, Floreindo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 10-14, 31-22, 50-37, 60-53.