Mobil/COAG stuns opponent; Joeten advances

Joeten’s Juanito Sambile, left, takes off for a layup against Docomo’s Richard Mendiola during the second quarter of their playoff game in the JEM/Mobil caging last Friday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mobil/COAG made it into the Elite 8 of the JEM Company Ltd./Mobil Customer Appreciation Basketball League after pulling off an 86-72 upset over Coca-Cola/Subway in their playoff game last Friday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The No. 14 seed Mobil/COAG got its offensive rhythm in the second half to eliminate the No. 3 seed Coca-Cola/Subway and march into the quarterfinals of the 16-team league.

Mobil/COAG scored 20-plus points in the third (25) and fourth (26) periods en route to the 14-winning margin. It engaged Coca-Cola/Subway in deadlock in the first canto, 18-all, and was ahead by only a hair at halftime, 35-34, before gaining cushion in the last two periods to force a Round of 8 duel against Best Deal/RNV Construction.

Joemar Manzano top-scored for Mobil/COAG with his 20 points, while three of his teammates also hit double figures for the squad’s balance offense and two more combined for 16. Alvin Almario and Edwin Torres contributed 18 each, while Marlon Sison added 10.

Only two players made twin digits for Coca-Cola/Subway with Edward Armia firing 23 and Michael Cabanas chipping in 18, but was scoreless in the final canto.

Meanwhile, in the curtain-raiser, Joeten cruised past Docomo, 110-61.

The fourth-seeded Joeten was without key players Kelvin Fitial and Sid Quan, who served a one-game suspension after figuring in a confrontation with TanHoldings’ Lerio Pagarao in the regular season. However, a lot of players stepped up in the absence of Fitial and Quan, making it easier for Joeten to oust Docomo.

Juanito Sambile, Raymond Bautista, and Chris Rogolifoi were on target against Docomo to fill the void left by their teammates. Sambile scored 18 points, while Bautista logged 17, 15 of them came from the 3-point area, and Rogolifoi posted 12. Joeten also drew a solid game from Ivan Devero, who registered 24 markers, while Alex Lauron had his usual contribution, adding 15.

With Joeten getting points from every player it fielded in the game it opened a 26-12 lead after the first quarter and had the win in the bag by halftime, 61-20.

With the victory, Joeten set an Elite 8 showdown against McDonald’s, who came from an upset win against the No. 5 seed Top Development.

Joeten and Mobil/COAG took the fifth and sixth quarterfinals berths, leaving four more teams to battle for the last two seats. No. 8 seed CUC will try to get one of the final two Elite 8 spots when it takes on D&Q/CTSI tonight at 6:30pm, while No. 7 GPPC hopes to advance, too when it challenges No. 10 Star Water in the nightcap at 8pm.

First Game
Joeten 110 — Devero 24, Sambile 18, Bautista 17, Lauron 15, Rogolifoi 13, Chariton 5, Tobias 4, Dionisio 2.

Docomo 61 — Mendiola 17, Kaipat 16, Rabauliman 12, Sanciangco 8, Sablan 8.

Scoring by quarters: 26-12, 61-20, 88-37, 110-61.

Second Game
Mobil/COAG 86 — Manzano 20, Almario 18, Torres 18, Sison 10, Agustin 7, Pelisamen 7, Cisnero 2, Martinez 2.

Coca-Cola/Subway 72 — Armia 23, Cabanas 18, Francisco 9, Fejeram 8, Felix 8, Estoque 4, Deang 2.

Scoring by quarters: 18-18, 35-34, 60-55, 86-72.