Isaiah settles score with Daniel

Isaiah avenged its loss to Daniel pulling off a 90-89 win in the 2008 CIM-FCC Inter-Color Basketball League-3rd Genesis Cup Friday night at the CIM-FCC Basketball Court in Gualo Rai.

When the two teams first met on Oct. 31, Daniel came home with a 66-62 triumph en route to handing Isaiah its first loss in three games.

In the second meeting, it was Isaiah’s turn to put a mark on Daniel’s clean record. Before losing to Isaiah, Daniel won its first four matches.

Isaiah drew 20-plus points from three players with Jun Tabora leading the way with 26 points. Bart Demapan chipped in 25, while Jeremy Tamayo added 22.

But it was Jake Licop who delivered the killer punches for Isaiah canning two charities in the closing seconds of the game to lift his team to a one-point win. The two free throws were the only baskets Licop made in the game.

A triple by Sonny Ranola in the last 10 seconds of the second half put Daniel in the lead, 89-88, after trailing by four going into the last one minute of the match.

After Ranola’s triple, Isaiah quickly inbounded the ball and went for a fastbreak play with Licop on the receiving end. Licop drove to the basket and challenged the defense of Elmer Esdrelon, who was called for a blocking foul.

Licop sank both charities giving Isaiah back the lead, 90-89, with two seconds left on the clock.

Daniel had no timeouts left and was force to go for a quick inbound and a hurried shot from Ranola, who missed his desperation triple handing the win to Isaiah.

After Friday’s game, Isaiah and Daniel are tied for the lead with identical 4-1 records.

Isaiah controlled the first half leading at 40-31 at halftime, as Tabora exploded for 20 points in the first 20 minutes of the game. Demapan and Tamayo helped Tabora put Isaiah in the driver’s seat combining for 18 markers.

Tabora slowed down in the second half, drilling only six markers, but Demapan and Tamayo were there to keep Isaiah afloat, scoring 15 and 14 markers, respectively.

Esdrelon was the lone double figure scorer for Daniel in the first half with his 12 points. He continued to lead Daniel in the second half, firing 26 markers, while Ranola, who did not play in the first half, made up for the lost time, tallying 21 markers.

Esdrelon led all scorers with 38 points, while Ranola finished with 21 markers. But their heroics were overshadowed by Licop’s two crucial free throws.

Isaiah 90 – Tabora 26, Demapan 25, Tamayo 22, Pantaleon 7, Pablo 4, Wabinga 2, Hernandez 2, Licop 2.

Daniel 89 – Esdrelon 38, Ranola 21, Talania 11, Fernandez 9, G. Barbo 6, Culala 4.

Scoring by halves: 40-31, 90-89.