LIPS, SMF win in comeback fashion

LIPS-Mobil and SMF-Shell refused to give in and fought until the end to pull off come-from-behind victories in the Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League Saturday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

LIPS had a tough time trying to stay just a game behind Division A leader Visminda-Tambayan/Nel Atalig as they received stiff resistance from 287-Club-McDonald’s before pulling through in the end for a 113-100 victory.

Frances Rebuyon played a key role in 287 giving LIPS a scare as the forward caught fire in the opening period and drilled 13 points, fueling a shocking run that resulted in a 14-point lead, 33-19, after the first quarter.

LIPS, however, managed to recover and despite allowing 287 Club’s William Opone to hit nine markers, the Mobil-backed team inched closer and cut the deficit to eight points before the break, 49-57. Young gun Rowell Aranda and Melvin Villarin each had eight points in the LIPS charge.

Aranda, Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr., and the rest of the LIPS cast continued to close the gap and eventually erased the deficit to head into the fourth quarter with the score knotted at 79-all.

LIPS’ one-two punch of Aranda and Estolas then took over as the two combined for 18 points in the final 10 minutes. While the two were waxing hot from the floor, 287 cooled off and were not able to keep pace as they were outscored 34-21.

Aranda and Estolas finished with 26 points apiece, while Ed Soriano and Villarin added 16 and 15 points. James Abuy also chipped in 10 points.

Opone paced 287 Club with 26 points, while Rebuyon and Ariel Jinang pumped in 19 and 13 points. Gil Gapor also had 10 points.

Earlier, the SMF-Shell players came through in the clutch as they used a 37-point explosion in the fourth to erase a nine-point deficit and beat MDX Amateur Radio Club-Armatech, 99-88.

SMF played sharp early on as reigning most valuable player Leo Itaas burned his defenders for 10 points to help his team post a 26-20 first quarter lead.

The lead quickly evaporated into thin air as MDX stormed back in the second stanza and played tough defense to turn the tables and rest at the break with a 49-42 advantage.

The lead stretched in the third quarter before Itaas and Sonny Lerio found a response in the fourth. Itaas went off for another 12 points, while Lerio swooshed in 11 points as they outscored the entire MDX cast to fuel the comeback.

Itaas finished with a game-high 29 points, while Lerio and Gary Cayetano added 24 and 15 points.

Marlon De Dios and Martin Moreno each had 17 points for MDX, while returnee Elbyn Cecilia and Richard Pambid pumped in 13 and 11 points.

First Game

SMF-Shell 99 – Itaas 29, Lerio 24, Cayetano 15, Pardinan 8, Demegillo 7, Moses 6, A. Tagle 4, Sison 4, Delfin 2.

MDX-Armatech 88 – De Dios 17, Moreno 17, Cecilia 13, Pambid 11, Umali 9, Mendoza 6, Devero 4, Malasarte 4, Capalad 3, Sublemente 2, Diyco 2.

Scoring by quarters: 26-20, 42-49, 62-71, 99-88.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Arnold Mesa.

Second Game

LIPS-Mobil 113 – Ro. Aranda 26, Estolas 26, Soriano 16, Villarin 14, Abuy 10, Espinosa 6, Re. Aranda 5, Artates 4, Canlas 3, Bernabe 2, Verano 1.

287 Club-McDonald’s 100 – Opone 26, Rebuyon 19, Jinang 13, Gapor 10, Tobias 8, Samson 8, Pelero 7, Mi. Achas 4, Mi. Achas 2, Lizo 2, C. Achas 1.

Scoring by quarters: 19-33, 49-57, 79-79, 113-100.

Referees: Dado Vistal and Noel Delos Santos.