DOL, CHC escape with nail-biting victories

Department of Labor and the Commonwealth Health Center won in similar fashion Thursday night, beating determined opponents courtesy of clutch plays in the ongoing 2006 Inter-Government Basketball League at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Making their season debut, CHC leaned on the touch of Richard “Doc” Brostrom and came up with a big stop with time running down to beat Tinian, 70-68.

Brostrom and company, however, had to work from behind for most parts of the game before their late push.

CHC trailed by five points, 11-16, after the first period, and saw the deficit expand a bit after Tinian continued with its solid play in the second quarter to head into the break ahead, 35-28.

Ringo Reyes, who had success in the first half, continued to put the pressure on CHC as he scored another five points, while Jess Manibusan had three field goals, helping Tinian stay ahead with one period remaining, 57-51.

Things took a big turn in the fourth quarter, though, as CHC was determined to get a good start in the season. Brostrom and Tom Diaz hit crucial shots, and while the CHC crew was having a respectable performance offensively, Tinian cooled down and was limited to just 11 points. CHC eventually took the lead and hit just enough free throws to hold on.

Brostrom finished with 26 points, while Diaz and Tony Raho pumped in 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Reyes and Manibusan led Tinian with 20 and 13 points.

Later, Tim Wesley kept himself from fouling out, drew a foul with time ticking away, and drilled clutch free throws to lift DOL to a 107-106 victory over Department of Public Safety Enforcers in overtime.

Wesley, DOL’s main man in the paint, was in early foul trouble and was one foul away from hitting the showers in the third quarter of the neck-and-neck bout.

Baskets provided by Steve Rasa kept Labor from falling far behind as they trailed by just a point with one quarter left in regulation, 69-70.

Rasa added another seven points in the final 10 minutes and Wesley returned for eight points as DOL kept their hopes alive by tying the game and forcing overtime at 98-all.

As in the four periods of regulation, both teams matched each other well and were trading baskets. Peter Camacho, who earlier in the week returned to home soil after his deployment to Iraq, showed he still had game as he came through and buried a bucket that gave DPS a 106-105 lead.

The pressure was on DOL and they responded courtesy of Wesley, who got to the charity line and was on target on both his shots to give DOL the lead and eventually the win.

Rasa was hot all game long and sizzled for 33 points, while Wesley and Mitch Aaron supported him with 24 and 15 points for DOL.

Ben Pelisamen led the Enforcers with 30 points, while Camacho seems to be getting back his old form pumping in 20 points. Elias Saralu also had 16 points.

First Game

CHC 70 – Brostrom 26, Diaz 13, Raho 11, Kalen 8, Kimoipin 6, Iglecias 2, Samson 2.

Tinian 68 – R. Reyes 20, Manibusan 13, A. Borja 9, Pascua 9, J. Reyes 6, Sablan 4, Lizama 3.

Scoring by quarters: 11-16, 28-35, 51-57, 70-68.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

DOL 107 – Rasa 33, Wesley 24, Aaron 15, fujihira 12, Mostales 11, Poquiz 6, Ayuyu 4, Manibusan 2.

DPS 106 – Pelisamen 30, Camacho 20, Saralu 16, Celes 14, Sablan 12, Ito 12, Kapileo 2.

Scoring by quarters: 17-18, 40-45, 69-70, 98-98, 107-106 (OT).

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Gilbert Espinosa.