Smart Cagers stop Blue Haus’ win streak, 66-61

Smart Cagers upset top-ranked Blue Haus, 66-61, in the second game of the QQ Car Rental Basketball Cup Invitational League Wednesday night at the Garapan basketball court.

Konflikt, meanwhile, notched two wins by first routing Rollers Happiness, 80-51, in the curtain raiser before downing Prospects, 77-74, in the continuation of a game first played last Friday.

Although enduring a loss, Blue Haus still remains atop the standings with its 6-1 slate, a half game ahead of Sonics (5-1), while IT&E is tied for third place with defending champions Mobil, as both teams share identical 5-2 cards.

Konflikt improved to fourth place after evening out its win-loss card to 4-4, while 2010 runner-up Ferrera Builders (4-3), Rollers Madness (1-5), Rollers Happiness (0-6), and Prospects (0-6) round out the bottom four.

Prospects take on Madness tonight at 6pm, after which the Sonics face off against Mobil at 8pm.

In Wednesday’s first game, Konflikt and Happiness paced each other as the game was even at 13-all after the opening 10 minutes of play.

Then Konflikt’s defense bit down in the second quarter as it jumped ahead, 32-22, at the half. Bon Tamayo carried the torch with seven points in the period.

Konflikt maintained a 54-42 advantage with a quarter to go, as seven players chipped in on the action.

Happiness’ offense disappeared at crunch time as Konflikt ran away with it at the end.

Back on Friday before rain poured down on the court, Prospects managed a 28-25 edge in the first quarter thanks to a couple of 3-pointers by Chris Lansang to go with the 10 points of Glenn Aquino.

It remained tight in the second period, as Prospects maintained a 43-41 lead at the break.

Then Konflikt erupted in the third quarter and pulled ahead, 66-55, with a quarter to go.

The rain came down with just 2:30 on the clock with Konflikt ahead, 75-67. The game continued last Wednesday, but finished uneventfully, as Konflikt milked the clock and drained a couple of freebies to seal the deal.

Konflikt’s Elmer Esdrelon one-upped Prospects’ Jun Abedes with 22 points in the match.

In Wednesday’s scheduled second match, Smart managed a slim 15-13 lead against Blue Haus in the first quarter as the team sank six free throws in the period.

IT&E then stretched its lead to 33-29 at the half as Errol Peredo and Pete Iguel contributed six points apiece.

The team maintained a 49-46 edge with a quarter to go.

Blue Haus did not go away, but Smart stayed true to its Smart moniker and held on for the win. Marlon De Dios tallied 10 points in the clutch to go with five free throws.

IT&E’s De Dios and Blue Haus’ Brendon Talania tallied 16 points apiece in the game.

[B]First Game

Konflikt 80[/B] – Mangali 16, Joyner 15, Tamayo 13, Esdrelon 11, Mendoza 10, Camacho 5, Libuw 4, Tumaquip 4, Arreza 2

[B]Happiness 51[/B] – Aulerio 11, Aughenbaugh 11, Danas 8, Bees 6, Brennan 4, Cepeda 4, Namelo 4, Torres 3, Babauta 2, DL Guerrero 2, Lizama 2, Reyes 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 13-13, 32-22, 54-42, 80-51.
[B] Second Game

Smart Cagers 66[/B] – De Dios 16, Peredo 15, Iguel 12, Barbo 10, Manolo 6, Ngeskebei 5, Caro 2.

[B]Blue Haus 61[/B] – Talania 16, Mateo 14, Vinas 13, Santos 10, De Vero 2, Diaz 2, Fernandez 2, Guiang 2.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 15-13, 33-29, 49-46, 66-61.

[B]Friday’s Game

Konflikt 77[/B] – Esdrelon 22, Mendoza 20, Joyner 16, Libuw 7, Tumaquip 7, Tamayo 5

[B]Prospects 64 [/B]– Abedes 21, Aqunio 19, Sablan 11, Lansang 7, Ortes 7, Mabini 4, Johannes 3.

[B]Scoring by quarters:[/B] 25-28, 41-43, 66-55, 77-74.