Docomo nears finals, Ol’Aces win

Docomo Pacific and Ol’Aces boosted their finals bid in the 2009 BANMI/Budweiser Basketball League after recording contrasting victories Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Docomo Pacific moved a win away from clinching the first finals ticket after thwarting the CNMI Nationals, 112-106, while Ol’Aces clobbered Quichocho Law Office, 115-84, and will be needing two more victories to advance to the title game.

The CNMI Nationals and Quichocho Law Office dropped to the loser’s bracket and must win their next game to keep their finals bid alive in the double-elimination playoffs.

The Nationals were in control of the game in the first half, which ended at 56-46, before a late third-quarter surge allowed Docomo to take the driver’s seat, 77-68.

The Nationals never recovered from thereon, as they began losing players one after another due to foul trouble.

Docomo tried pulling away in the fourth period, leading by as much as 13 points, 87-74, before Jericho Cruz anchored a Nationals’ comeback, going into the last two minutes of the game. Cruz’s triple from the right corner tied the match at 106-all, with 1:07 left in the fourth period.

Mel Manibusan drove to the basket and missed, but Kelvin Fitial was there for an offensive rebound and a putback, giving the lead back to Docomo, 108-106.

Iguel tried his luck from downtown in the Nationals’ next offensive set, but missed his triple from the right corner of the court. Mark Wallace grabbed the rebound and drew a foul from Allen Moses, who had to leave the game after getting his fifth foul. Wallace made both charities to widen the gap, 110-106, with 40.6 seconds left on the clock.

The Nationals faltered, anew, in their ensuing play when Iguel drove to the baseline, committed himself in midair against the outstretched arms of Manibusan, and at the last minute went for a drop pass to Tumaquip. Tumaquip fumbled, as he was not expecting the pass and was called for a 3-second violation, giving possession back to Docomo.

But the Nationals got the ball back quickly when Cruz stole Manibusan’s crosscourt pass, went for a triple, and muffed the shot. James Villacrusis then collared the rebound and passed the ball to Wallace, who was fouled by Tumaquip. Wallace canned both free throws to seal the win for Docomo, with 17.3 seconds remaining in the game.

Tumaquip was the fifth Nationals player who had to sit to the bench due to five fouls. Quincy Johnson fouled out first midway in the fourth, followed by Camacho, Joseph White, and then Moses, who left the court with less than a minute left in the final canto.

Injured Jayvan Tarkong, who twisted his left knee in their game against Ol’Aces two weeks ago, was forced to play, relieving the fouled out Moses. In the last 17.3 seconds of the game, the Nationals were left with four players—Cruz, Iguel, Chariton, and Tarkong.

Meanwhile, tonight’s games will be played at the Garapan Basketball Court. Ol’Aces will duel Diamond Auto Shop in the first game at 6:30pm, while the Runnin’ Rebels will collide with Quichocho in the second match at 8pm.

The winner of the Ol’Aces-Diamond tiff will meet Docomo for the first finals slot on Monday.
[B] First Game

Ol’Aces 115[/B] – White 20, Renguul 20, P. Camacho 16, Pelisamen 14, Rangamar 13, C. Camacho 9, Olaitiman 8, Omar 4.

[B]Quichocho Law Office 84[/B] – Barbo 22, Cadagat 16, Lerio 16, Tagle 12, Demapan 10, Palero 3, Capalad 2, Itaas 2.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 26-18, 54-48, 78-61, 115-84.

[B]Second Game

Docomo 112[/B] – Wallace 29, Fitial 27, Paul 13, Sanciangco 13, Jo. Villacrusis 12, Ja. Villacrusis 9, Manibusan 8, Rasa 2.

[B]CNMI Nationals 106[/B] – Cruz 38, Iguel 25, Tumaquip 12, Johnson 8, Camacho 6, Moses 6, Chariton 4, White 3.
[B] Scoring by quarters:[/B] 20-22, 56-46, 77-68, 112-106.