Mawati, RNV Construction prevail

RNV Construction’s Andy Mortos, left, is seen here pulling up for a short jumper against Tsingtao’s Jonathan Brocano during an earlier game in the 2019 One Pacific Promotional Basketball League at the Civic Center Court. RNV played its final two games in the regular season last Sunday, losing to Mawati before winning over IT&E Light. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

Mawati and RNV Construction won the last pair of matches in the regular season of the 2019 One Pacific Promotional Basketball League.

Mawati defeated RNV Construction, 83-72, in the first make-up game last Sunday at the Civic Center Court, while the former wrapped up the elimination round with a 75-64 triumph over IT&E Light. Mawati finished the regular season with an 8-3 record, while RNV and IT&E Light had 7-4 and 4-7 slates, respectively.

Frank Ferrer carried Mawati to victory with his 23 points, while Jerome Reyes, Jerome Directo, and Raymond Velasco, contributed 11 each.

A 22-11 scoring in the first quarter allowed Mawati to take early control of the match and it stayed on top the rest of the way to end the elimination on a positive note.

RNV Construction also managed to notch a victory in its last game after turning the tables on IT&E Light in the second half.

Behind by 3 at the break, 29-32, RNV scored 26 points against IT&E Light’s 14 to grab the upper hand in the third quarter, 55-46. Ronald Rueda drilled 10 points in the pivotal third period, while Mark Tarayao added 6.

RNV never relinquished the lead from thereon with Rueda making 8 more points in the fourth frame and getting enough help from his teammates. Rueda finished with a game-high 26 markers.

Meanwhile, Light & Salt pulled off a 66-65 victory over Gilas Batang last Thursday.

Light & Salt fell behind by as much as 18 points in the first half, 24-42, but managed to work its way back in the game in the second for its first win of the season. Light & Salt ended up getting two victories in the inaugural league, as it also prevailed over Docomo last Saturday.

Versus Gilas Batang, Light & Salt completed its fightback in the fourth quarter after drawing triples from Rommel Usi and Arnold Natividad. Usi hit two triples in the final canto, while Natividad made four. Manuel Embile knocked in the last triple that sealed the win for Light & Salt, which exploded for 26 points in the final frame, nearly doubling Gilas Batang’s output (14).

SUNDAY
First Game
Mawati 83—Ferrer 23, Reyes 11, Directo 11, Velasco 11, Quizon 5, Enriquez 5, Rejano 5, Avila 4, Gontar 3, Nonato 2.
RNV Construction 72—Rueda 33, Biscocho 10, Odicta 8, Mortos 8, Taraya 4, Corpuz 4, Tagle 3, Naval 2.
Scoring by quarters: 22-11, 46-34, 61-48, 83-72

Second Game
RNV Construction 75—Rueda 26, Biscocho 12, Tarayao 9, Mortos 6, Baul 6, Corpuz 6, Tortor 3, Alfonso 2, Tagle 2, Jumaquio 2.
IT&E Light 64—De Guzman 15, Jose 9, Santos 7, Palacios 7, Madreo 5, Divinigracia 5, Pamintuan 4, Bernal 3, Gotengco 2.
Scoring by quarters: 14-15, 29-32, 55-46, 75-64

THURSDAY
Light & Salt 66—Natividad 22, Usi 20, Villaluna 10, Pineda 4, Embile 3, Laxamana 2.
Gilas Batang 65—Ege 17, Tibayan 15, Lumanlan 12, Acosta 6, Hernandez 4, Estores 4, Rosario 2, Balba 2, De Jesus 2, Daluyen 2.
Scoring by quarters: 14-23, 24-42, 40-51, 66-65