Docomo/Hoops whip Cabalen/Noni

UPAA/Docomo Hoopaholics booked their second win in the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup after thumping Cabalen/Noni, 81-65, on Thursday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

The Hoops held Cabalen/Noni scoreless in the last 3:32 of the game to improve to a 2-1 record and recover from an 81-95 loss at the hands of Bayani/Mobil last week. Noni fell to an even 1-1 slate, as it failed to make a single basket and committed numerous turnovers in the last three and half minutes of the fourth canto.

Noni had its last field goal off Banjo Basila’s triple and the team moved within two, 65-67, after falling behind by as much as 10 points in the final quarter, 62-52.

The Hoops sued for time and managed to regroup when the game resumed. Dave and John Sablan connected on clutch baskets in the ensuing plays to halt Noni’s rally. On defense, the Hoops big men protected the paint effectively, forcing Cabalen to take shots from outside and miss. It did not help Noni that it also turned the ball over several times. One of them came a few seconds after Basila’s triple, as Wowie Abuel fed Kae Bernardo at the baseline and the latter had butterfingers and lost the leather.

Cabalen either committed mistakes or muffed shots in the ensuing plays, while John Sablan hit a dagger, drilling a triple to bring the Hoops’ lead back to double digits, 75-65, with 1:46 left on the clock.

After the trey, Cabalen/Noni inbounded the ball, but could not even bring the leather to its front court, as Dave Sablan’s quick hands were there for a steal and a layup. Down by 12, 77-65, Cabalen’s miseries continued as it missed its last four attempts.

Dave Sablan paced Docomo with 23 points, while John Sablan and James Villacrusis tallied 19 and 10, respectively.

Basila was the top-scorer for Noni, but had only 12 points, while Bernardo bled for 10 markers. Bernardo and the rest of Noni frontliners were clobbered by the Hoops big men inside. Abuel and other Noni shooters also struggled, as Hoops guards challenged every shot. Abuel was held to four points, while Bon Tamayo tallied only seven. Both gunners were scoreless in the fourth, while Lerio Pagarao, who made 25 in his first game, was limited to eight.

In the first game, Bayani/Mobil rallied past MDX/Blue Haus, 85-82.

The win was third in as many games for Bayani/Mobil, giving the team a share of the lead with VisMinda/Satbahi. MDX is at the cellar of the nine-team field with its dismal 0-3 record.

MDX/Blue Haus seemed headed for its first win after controlling the game in the first three quarters, but collapsed in the fourth canto.

Bayani/Mobil outgunned MDX/Blue Haus in the fourth period, 33-21, to recover from a slow start and steal the win. The Marvin Deocares-coached squad completed the come-from-behind victory after canning seven free throws in the homestretch.

Bayani/Mobil was held to three field goals in the opening canto, allowing MDX to take a 13-9 lead. MDX went on to outscore Bayani in the next two quarters to keep the driver’s seat, 61-52, entering the final period. However, momentum shifted to Bayani’s side in the fourth with Jun Estolas leading the team’s rally. The Bayani guard scored 15 of his 30 points in the final period.

Bayani/Mobil 85 – Estolas 30, Lizama 12, Gamboa 12, Ruluked 6, De Guzman 6, Sharry 6, Gapor 2, Moises 2, Factor 1.

MDX/Blue Haus 82 – Lauron 22, Babauta 16, Tenorio 15, Johanes 10, Z. Diaz 8, Lisua 8, Palacios 3.

Scoring by quarters: 9-13, 32-37, 52-61, 85-82.

UPAA/Docomo Hoopaholics 81 – D. Sablan 23, J. Sablan 19, Villacrusis 10, Lee 8, Fitial 7, Mendez 2, Manibusan 2, Palacios 2.

Cabalen/Noni 65 – Basila 12, Bernardo 10, Pagarao 8, Tamayo 7, Yabut 7, Demapan 6, Abuel 4, Pantaleon 3, David 2.

Scoring by quarters: 13-15, 29-24, 52-48, 81-65.