Legislature, Autonomous notch contrasting wins

Legislature and Autonomous took separate paths en route to nailing victories in the Inaugural PTI Inter-Government/Business Basketball League Tuesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Legislature survived Commonwealth Ports Authority’s late rally to eke out an 88-87 win in the first game, while Autonomous had an easier time against Department of Public Works/Procurement & Supply in the second match, cruising to a 109-96 triumph.

The Lawmakers were ahead by nine, 89-80, with less than a minute left in the fourth period, when CPA launched a 7-0 run to cut the lead to two, 87-89.

Bill Camacho connected on a triple and an undergoal stab, while Raymond Sablan had a layup.

CPA could have tied the game or even have taken the lead, but several misses foiled their bid.

Leading by only two with less than 20 seconds remaining in the game, the Legislature decided to push the ball hard toward its frontcourt instead of hanging on to the possession to melt the clock.

CPA went for the steal and succeeded when Jerome Reyes caught Dave Apatang’s crosscourt pass to Ray Duenas.

Reyes then found an open Camacho under the basket, but the latter muffed the potential game-tying basket. CPA’s Burton Wenty grabbed the offensive board, went for another shot, but missed anew.

After Wenty’s miss, there was a scramble for the ball and Camacho won, but failed to complete CPA’s come-from-behind win when he missed a triple, with only two seconds left in the game.

Ernest Duenas led the Lawmakers’ two-point win, firing 33 points, including his team’s last six points. Joel Punzalan chipped in 24, while Duenas’ father Ray contributed 13.

Legislature led after each quarter, but could not pull away with Jerome Reyes keeping CPA afloat. Reyes had a game-high 37 points.

In the second game, Autonomous drew 20-plus points from three players to whip DPW/P&S.

Ed Diaz topscored for Autonomous with 28 points, while Bob Coldeen and Steve Rasa chipped in 25 and 20, respectively.

Autonomous, which have younger players than DPW, leaned on its speed and inside game to outgun and outrun its much older foes.

Rasa and Ulysses Kapileo muscled their way inside to outpower DPW/P&S’s frontline, while Diaz and Coldeen alternately hit outside shots and fastbreak layups.

By the end of the first period, Autonomous was ahead by 11, 33-22.

DPW/P&S never recovered from thereon despite getting 50 points from Edgar Pangelinan, who exploded for 11 3-pointers.

Only two DPW/P&S players scored in double figures for their team with Oscar Masga firing 15 markers.

Legislature 89 – E. Duenas 33, Punzalan 24, R. Duenas 13, Guerrero 9, Apatang 8, Cabrera 2.

CPA 87 – Reyes 37, Smith 16, Camacho 11, Wenty 11, Sablan 10, Choay 2.

Scoring by quarters: 20-17, 35-32, 56-54, 89-87.

Referees: Arnold Mesa/Eric Artillaga.

Autonomous 109 – Diaz 28, Coldeen 25, Rasa 20, Kapileo 14, Everly 10, Wesley 6, Aaron 6.

DPW/P&S 96 – E. Pangelinan 50, Masga 15, Iglecias 8, Deleon Guerrero 7, G. Pangelinan 4, J. Pangelinan 3, Tomokane 3.

Scoring by quarters: 33-22, 53-43, 76-63, 109-96.

Referees: Arnold Mesa/Eric Artillaga. [B][I](Roselyn B. Monroyo)[/I][/B]