Keeraku nips LSG for first win
Pasky Peleno scored on a tough follow up and Jay Mendoza iced the game by canning two free throws to lift Keeraku Restaurant to a hard-earned 61-58 win over LSG Sky Chefs early Saturday morning in 2004 Inter-Restaurant Basketball League.
In front of a visibly and audibly pro-Keeraku crowd at the Garapan court, both teams battled back and forth for all four quarters before breaks spelled the difference in the endgame.
With guard Manny Mendez finding his stroke, Keeraku got off to great start and led 19-12 after the opening quarter. But the duo of swingman Ed Yalung and center Alex Lauron will bring LSG back in the game in the second and the score at halftime was 34-31 still in favor of Keeraku.
Keeraku capitalized on Peleno’s obvious height and heft advantage down the low blocks at the start of the third and slowly took control of the match. LSG tried to double Peleno but the 6’1” mastodon succeeded in spotting open teammates.
Mendoza also got a bunch of easy layups on the fastbreak as Keeraku went up by 8 points, 52-44, at the end of three quarters of play.
In the payoff period, Keeraku continued to have the driver’s seat and appeared headed for its first win in the 2004 season. But the Sky Chefs would suddenly rally back and a putback by Lauron gave them their first taste of the lead, 58-57, with just a little over a minute left in the ballgame.
But in Keeraku’s next possession, Peleno got the spheroid deep on the shaded lane and muscled his way for a 3-point play opportunity. Although, Peleno missed the extra foul shot, LSG would misfire at the other end and were forced to foul Mendoza, who turned out to be automatic from the 15-foot line.
Peleno and Mendoza were also the top scorers for Keeraku with 17 points apiece. Peleno also came away with 15 rebounds, assisted twice and blocked one shot.
Yalung and Lauron paced LSG’s losing cause with 18 and 15 points, respectively. Lauron also was a monster beneath the boards hauling down 14 rebounds.
Last Tuesday, Country House got 26 points and 17 rebounds from do-it-all forward Banjo Basila as they avoided the upset axe from a hungry El Sequndo team, 65-58.
Playmaker Edward Vega backed-up Basila’s sterling game with 14 points and 3 rebounds. Ariel Abadilla spearheaded El Segundo’s gallant stand with 21 markers, while Ramsa Tenepere chipped in 11.
The game between Angel Wings and Capricciosa was cancelled thrice last week due to rain. Weather permitting, the restaurant league resumes at 11pm tonight with Angels Wings taking on El Segundo at the Garapan court.
Country House and Triple J Five Star are the main sponsors of the 2004 Inter-Restaurant Basketball League.
Saturday Game
Keeraku 61 – Peleno 17, Mendoza 17, Mendez 8, Bernardo 7, Codog 4, De Belen 4, Than 4.
LSG Sky Chefs 58 – Yalung 18, Lauron 15, Del Rosario 7, M. Seman 6, Sangalang 6, K. Seman 4, Alcazar 2.
Scoring by quarters: 19-12, 34-31, 52-44, 61-58.
Tuesday Game
Country House 65 – Basila 26, Vega 14, Dayrit 8, San Gabriel 4, Cruzat 4, Villanueva 4, Lopez 3, Bautista 2.
El Segundo 58 – Abadilla 21, Tenepere 11, Jugos 9, De Vera 8, Cruz 7, Patricio 2.
Scoring by quarters: 13-13, 29-29, 49-47, 65-58.
