VisMinda/Satbahi regains solo lead

VisMinda/Satbahi withstood NMBA/Mixed Blood’s second half rally to nail a 74-63 win in the second game in the UFO Inter-Organization Basketball Friendship League 2011 Bud Cup on Tuesday night at the TSL Sports Complex.

The victory gave VisMinda/Satbahi the solo lead, as it improved to a 3-0 mark, one win ahead of second-running Bayani/Mobil.

VisMinda/Satbahi was on top by double digits at the break, 36-26, but let its guard down midway in the third period, allowing NMBA/Mixed Blood to threaten for a comeback.

After three quarters, NMBA was behind by only a single digit, 49-56, and then moved to within four, 56-52, as it silenced VisMinda/Satbahi in the first three minutes of the fourth canto.

A layup from Elgien Mangali ended VisMinda/Satbahi’s drought and started the team’s short 9-2 rally in a span of three minutes. VisMinda/Satbahi’s lead increased to double digits, anew, 65-54, with less than four minutes in the game.

NMBA/Mixed Blood made one final comeback attempt when Jeff Pagarao’s triple sliced the lead to seven, 63-70. However, the trey was also NMBA’s last basket in the remaining two minutes of the match, as it committed one error after another in the ensuing plays, while Manolo Manalo, Darwin Barbo, and Perry Inos put the finishing touches on VisMinda/Satbahi’s third win.

Mangali top-scored for VisMinda/Satbahi with his 17 points, while Manalo had 11. Dennis Morales paced NMBA/Mixed Blood (1-2) with his 18 markers, but he was held to one field goal in the fourth canto.

Defending champion MAFEA/Ali’i Konflikt was also steady in the homestretch, pulling off an 82-78 victory over Cavite/Andok’s.

The win was only the first in three games for Ali’i Konflikt.

Jawn Joyner and Ivan De Vero hit clutch baskets in the last one minute of the match to put Ali’i Konflikt in the win column after losing to VisMinda/Satbahi and Namfrel/Proa.

The game was tied for the last time at 78-all after Cavite’s Mike Olaitiman split his charities.

In the ensuing play, Joyner pulled up for a jumper from the top key and missed. Fortunately for Ali’i Konflikt, Elmer Esdrelon picked up the loose ball after a long rebound play and fed Joyner, who made another attempt and this time connected on a short jumper from the right baseline.

With Ali’i Konflikt ahead, 80-78, 40 seconds to go in the game, Tim Wesley tried to knot the count anew, but faltered on his drive. Ivan Devero collared the rebound after the miss and drew a foul on Wesley. The Ali’i Konflikt wingman then canned a pair of free throws to seal the win and hand Cavite its third loss in as many games.

Cavite dropped to a 0-3 record despite playing with gunner Freddie Pelisamen, who struggled in his UFO debut, scoring only seven points and three field goals.

Devero led Ali’i Konflikt with 17, while his four other teammates also scored in double figures. Joyner had 13, Elmer Esdrelon chipped in 14, and Junar Guiab and J.R. Barrios tallied 12 each.

Joy Dayrit logged 20 for Cavite, including 11 straight points in the fourth quarter. He sat out for about two minutes in the final canto and went cold when he returned to the court, missing four of his last six attempts.

MAFEA/Ali’i Konflikt 82 – Devero 17, Joyner 16, Esdrelon 14, Guiab 12, Barrios 12, Mendoza 6, Tumaquip 4, Talania 4.

Cavite/Andok’s 78 – Dayrit 20, Wesley 18, Muleta 13, Mabini 11, Pelisamen 7, Artates 4, Olaitiman 4.

Scoring by quarters: 20-21, 44-38, 60-58, 82-78.

VisMinda/Satbahi 74 – Mangali 17, Manalo 11, Santos 9, Barbo 9, Eclevia 7, De Dios 5, Inos 5, Peredo 4, Paraiso 4, Camacho 2.

NMBA/Mixed Blood 63 – Morales 18, Pagarao 16, Mungcal 15, Ito 6, Valiente 1, Montes 1, Cortez 1.

Scoring by quarters: 17-10, 36-26, 56-49, 74-63.