BoG, DCCA slip past opponents

Bank of Guam and Department of Community and Cultural Affairs walked the tightrope before escaping with victories in the continuation of the 2008 PTI Inter-Government Business Basketball League Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

In the first game, DCCA rallied from 21 points down to nip an Autonomous team made up of players from last year’s champion Office of Public Auditor, 95-94; while Bank of Guam outlasted Department of Corrections after a tightly fought game, 93-91, in the nightcap.

DCCA had to earn its third win in four starts against Autonomous.

After taking a candlestick 21-20 lead in the first 10 minutes of the contest, the team saw it trail 40-48 at halftime before Autonomous went on a 31-19 tear in the third to enter the fourth and final quarter ahead, 79-59.

DCCA, however, refused to give up and started the fourth quarter with triples from ageless wonder Elias Rangamar and strong inside forays by lefty center Abong Camacho.

Peter Camacho also got into the act, while the entire team stopped Autonomous dead on its tracks with a stifling defense.

With a little over two minutes to go, a Rangamar fastbreak gave DCCA its first taste of the lead in a long while, 90-89. An Abong Camacho 3-point play moments later extended that to four.

A triple by Ed Diaz would put Autonomous within a point of DCCA’s lead, 92-93, but split free throws by Peter Camacho and Joey Dela Cruz—sandwiched by a lone basket by Diaz—sealed the win for DCCA.

Abong Camacho led the DCCA comeback with 29 points, while brother Peter and Ranagamar wound up with 25 and 24, respectively.

Bull-strong Steve Rasa led Autonomous in the frustrating loss with a game-high 34, while younger brother, Ponce, and Tim Wesley chipped in 18 and 14. It was the first loss in three outings for Autonomous.

In the second game, Bank of Guam and Department of Corrections matched each other shot for shot the entire 40 minutes before the Bankers nosed out the prison guards in the final moments for the two-point win.

BoG led 18-13 and 33-32 in the first two quarters but DOC forged a 55-55 tie at the end of three quarters.

Both teams continued to battle tooth and nail in the payoff period and a Jeff Quitigua bucket put DOC ahead 91-90.

Lady Luck, however, smiled at BoG in the game’s final seven seconds as forward James Lee found himself all alone on the right side of the 3-point arc and let loose what proved to be the game-winning score. He then preserved his heroics when he stole the ensuing DOC inbounds pass.

Randy Pelisamen led the way for BoG with 31 points, while James Villacrusis and Gus Palacios added 18 and 17 for the now 3-1 bankers.

Quitigua and Luis Iguel top-scored for DOC with 20 points apiece. The loss was the first in four outings for the team.

First Game

DCCA 95 – A. Camacho 29, P. Camacho 25, Rangamar 24, Van Buren 9, Dela Cruz 6, Sablan 4.

Autonomous 94 – S. Rasa 34, P. Rasa 18, Wesley 14, Coldeen 11, Diaz 11, Camacho 4, Aaron 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-20, 40-48, 59-79, 95-94.

Referees: Arnold Mesa and Jess Pabula.

Second Game

BoG 93 – Pelisamen 31, Villacrusis 18, G. Palacios 17, D. Palacios 12, Taisacan 8, Lee 5, Diaz 2.

DOC 91 – Iguel 20, Quitugua 20, Blas 13, Iramk 11, Mendiola 8, Santos 6, Mendez 4, Kwon 4, Guerrero 3, Itibus 2,

Scoring by quarters: 18-13, 33-32, 55-55, 93-91.

Referees: Noel Delos Santos and Gilbert Espinosa.