Back-to-back titles for Mobil

Smart Cagers were not that clever after all, as it collapsed in the closing minutes of Game 2 of the best-of-three title series in the 2011 QQ Car Rental Basketball Cup, allowing Mobil to eke out an 87-85 victory and clinch the championship Saturday night at the Garapan Basketball Court.

Down by three in the last 30 seconds of the game, Mobil showed mental toughness in the homestretch to sweep the series and defended the title it won last year against Ferrera Builders.

Gyles Ruluked and Jun Estolas delivered the crucial plays for Mobil in Game 2 to foil Smart Cagers’ bid to extend the short series.

Behind at 82-85, Mobil coach Marvin Deocares sued for time and instructed his wards to go for a quick three. However, when play resumed Estolas was tempted to pull up for a trey when he found himself open from the right side. He missed and Smart Cagers’ Marlon De Dios collared the rebound and passed it to Pete Iguel, but the lob was too high and Smart Cagers lost possession.

With Mobil regaining the leather, Deocares this time instructed his guards to make a shot from downtown. However at the resumption of the match Mobil’s gunners were well guarded. Fortunately, Ruluked was momentarily left open off Ron Gamboa’s screen, pulled up for a 3-pointer from the top key, and hit the bank shot to tie the game, 85-all, with 14 seconds left on the clock.

Smart Cagers had timeouts left, but called none and opted to make a quick inbound. Darwin Barbo received the pass, but was pressured in the backcourt by Ruluked and Estolas. Ruluked eventually tapped the ball out of Barbo’s hands, Estolas picked it up, and then the Mobil guard went up a layup.

Mobil went ahead for the first time, 87-85, and Smart Cagers had no time to pull up for a decent shot, as only one second was left on the clock.

It was a sorry loss for Smart Cagers, as they dictated the tempo of the game all throughout before making crucial lapses in the end.

Errol Peredo and De Dios gave Smart Cagers a good start when they combined for 13 points and lifted their team to a 22-15 lead at the end of the first period.

Mobil picked up the scoring in the second canto behind Marvin Rabauliman’s seven straight points. However, Smart Cagers hung on to the driver’s seat at the break, 46-39, as Peredo continued to score and drew support from his teammates.

The gap widened to 10 by the end of the third canto, 71-61, when Darwin Barbo broke loose and score 10 of his 21 markers in that period.

Ruluked, who was held to two field goals in the first three quarters, started the fourth with five straight points, while Estolas earned a living from the foul line to spark Mobil’s rally. The eventual back-to-back champions hung in there until Smart Cagers committed booboos in the end, allowing Mobil to steal the win and sweep the series. Mobil won Game 1, 90-74.

Rabauliman top-scored for Mobil in Game 2 with his 24 points, while Estolas and Ruluked chipped in 16 and 12. Ron Gamboa and Larry Sharry combined for 22 markers for Mobil’s balance offense.
[B] Mobil 87[/B] – Rabauliman 24, Estolas 16, Ruluked 12, Gamboa 12, Sharry 10, Fernando 8, De Guzman 2.
[B] Smart Cagers 85[/B] – Barbo 21, Peredo 19, De Dios 16, Iguel 14, Sacramento 9, Usi 1.