Fliptop nips Bandits to bag semis berth

Flip Top’s Perry Inos goes up for a reverse layup against SSFM’s Mike Espinosa during an earlier game in the DLX caging last month at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court. Inos scored 18 points in their 81-80 win over the Bandits last Wednesday. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Jun Estolas canned a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to lift Flip Top to the tough win and bring his team to the semifinal round, joining early qualifiers Ali’i and SSFM. The Bandits failed to beat Flip Top for the battle for the third semis berth after J.R. Barrios faltered in a desperation trey in the dying seconds. The Bandits now have to prevail against Ghasias Brothers in a knockout game tonight to make it to the semifinal round, which will be played tomorrow.

Flip Top needed Estolas’ clutch charities, as it engaged the Bandits in a seesaw battle in the fourth quarter. Estolas, Mike Arciaga, and Perry Inos traded baskets with Barrios and Jaymark De Guzman in the final canto with the latter scoring the Bandits’ last 7 points to put his team in the lead for the last time.

All five players involved in the exchange finished in twin digits. Arciaga paced Flip Top with his 19 points, hitting back-to-back treys in the homestretch and 8 straight markers, while Inos and Estolas chipped in 18 and 11, respectively. Estolas played only in the second half and nailed all his points in the fourth. Ron Gamboa was the fourth Flip Tip player to break into double figures with his 17 points.

De Guzman led all scorers, sizzling for 33 points, while Barrios had 10, matching Edmark Mendoza’s output. De Guzman knocked in 7 early points to give the Bandits a 17-14 cushion at the end of the third. The Bandits then lost the upper hand in the second quarter, but remained in contention, falling behind by only 1 point at the break, 35-36. De Guzman added 8 points, while Bryle Alegre had 6 to keep the Bandits in the match against Flip Top, which relied on the 6 markers apiece of Inos and Arciaga.

Arciaga was then held to two field goals in the third period, but Gamboa picked up the slack, firing 10 in that canto, as Flip Top hung on to the driver’ seat, 57-54. The game remained tight in the fourth with Estolas opening the quarter for Flip Top with 3 straight points and his team making its next five field goals from downtown. Not to be outdone, Bandits also drilled four shots from beyond the arc to stay in the game, but the match was later decided from the foul line with Estolas calmly sinking a pair.

Flip Top 81 – Arciaga 19, Inos 18, Gamboa 17, J. Estolas 11, Fidelino 8, Capalad 4, D. Estolas 4.

Bandits 80 – De Guzman 33, Mendoza 10, Barrios 10, Achas 8, Alegre 6, Salazar 5, Guiang 4, Aniciete 2.

Scoring by quarters: 14-17, 36-35, 57-54, 81-80.