Cliffhangers in govt caging

Department of Labor and Commonwealth Health Center had to work double time to squeak past separate opponents in the resumption of the 2004 Government Basketball League Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, DOL had all their points come from starters but only were able to breath easy after Procurement and Supply’s Frank Iglecias missed on his heave from halfcourt that preserved their 61-58 win.

Center Steve Rasa carried DOL on his broad shoulders, barreling his way for 14 points as the team led 19-15 after the opening quarter.

Rasa cooled off in the second but playing-coach Tony Sablan picked up where he left off, rifling a triple and deuce to help DOL to a 32-23 advantage at the turn.

Iglecias and Oscar Masga, Sablan’s old Verizon teammates in the Masters Basketball League, then ignited a P&S uprising in the third that had DOL scrambling to regain control with little success, and at the end of three quarters of play, P&S had gutted DOL’s lead to a mere 6 points, 41-47.

P&S’ play steadily improved, while DOL’s continued to ebb in the fourth. Sparked by the 10 markers of John Palacios, P&S caught up with DOL in the final minutes of the contest.

Key baskets, however, by guard Mitch Aaron prevented a complete collapse by DOL, as they somehow managed to pull off the win.

After forward Tim Wesley missed the backend of his free throws, Masga rebounded the ball and passed to a streaking Iglecias, who had no choice but to launch a Hail Mary shot with seconds left that ricocheted harmlessly off the backboard.

Rasa paced all scorers with 24 points, while Sablan and Wesley added 12 and 11 markers apiece. Aaron pumped in 9 points, 7 in the pivotal fourth.

Masga and Palacios led P&S’ losing cause with identical 13 points. Iglecias fired 11.

In the second game, CHC played to the level of the competition and were fortunate to pull off a 58-56 victory over a rag-tag team from the Office Public Auditor.

Amazingly, CHC turned away from their strengths and consistently shot baskets from afar when they had 6’4” Tony Raho and 6’3” Joe Tudela manning the inside.

OPA had no trouble exploiting CHC’s flawed gameplan and even managed to lead 30-29, 41-40 in the second and third quarters of a tightly fought game.

Luckily for CHC, their opponents’ inadequacies finally caught up with them in the dying seconds, as players from OPA misfired on a couple of gimme baskets that allowed CHC to escape with the win.

Tudela bullied his way for 15 points, while long-range artist Tom Diaz and Raho added 13 and 12 points for the victors.

Robert Torres was the highpoint man for OPA with 18 markers, while Christian Camacho came away with 10.

First Game

DOL 61 – Rasa 24, T. Sablan 12, Wesley 11, Aaron 9, Ayuy 5.

P&S 58 – Masga 13, J. Palacios 13, Iglecias 11, J. Palacios 8, Diaz 6, Cabrera 5, Guerrero 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-15, 32-23, 47-41, 61-58.

Referees: Jess Pacheco and Noel Delos Santos.

Second Game

CHC 58 – Tudela 15, T. Diaz 13, Raho 12, Guerrero 9, Guillermo 6, Kalen 2, Duenas 1.

OPA 56 – R. Torres 18, Camacho 10, Peter 9, F. Torres 8, Sablan 7, Pangelinan 4.

Scoring by quarters: 14-12, 29-30, 40-41, 58-56.

Referees: Mike White and Dado Vistal.