Mawati holds off Cell Pro

Mawati fended off Cell Pro’s second-half rally to pull off a 74-71 win in the curtain-raiser in the 2011 Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League last Thursday night at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

Mawati improved to a 3-2 card in Pool C, while Cell Pro dropped to a 2-3 slate.

The opening game saw Mawati build an early 19-12 lead, as Nicko Salem paced his squad with six markers in the first quarter. Then Mawati stretched the lead to double digits at the break, 39-27, as Dan Dela Cruz made it to the scoreboard, hitting six points in the second quarter.

In the second half, Cell Pro drained a pair of three-pointers early in the third quarter to chip the deficit to six, 46-52, entering the final 10 minutes of play. Cell Pro’s Josh Norita and Roger Herrera teamed up for 16 points in the surge.

Cell Pro continued its recovery in the fourth, but fell short after missing several shots in the homestretch.. Dick Tibiyan came off the bench for Cell Pro and delivered 15 points to go with the nine markers of Roy Hernandez. But besides the two, the rest of Cell Pro players went cold midway in the fourth.

Despite Cell Pro’s comeback bids, Mawati kept its cool and traded baskets early in the fourth and then made seven free throws in the end to secure the win.

Salem led the field with 20 points, while Leo Itaas had 18 for Cell Pro.

Meanwhile, Joeten stretched is unbeaten streak to four after surviving iFashion in overtime, 63-59, during the second game last Tuesday.

Joeten and iFashion are in the league’s Pool B and while the former remains undefeated, the latter absorbed its first loss in four games.

Joeten managed a slim 10-8 edge in the opening 10 minutes, as a handful of players contributed at least one basket apiece in the first quarter.

Then Joeten pulled ahead at halftime, 28-20, as Christian Devero, James Sablan, and Rodney Sacramento delivered four points apiece in the second period. Joeten pressed ahead in the third quarter, 46-36, thanks to a couple of three-pointers.

However, iFashion stepped up in the fourth canto and knotted the match at 56-all at the end of regulation. iFashion’s Ryan Odicta led the charge in the fouth with seven points, five came from the free throw line.

In the extra period, Joeten’s defense regrouped, containing iFashion to just three points, while it buried five pressured free throws to seal the victory.

Sacramento finished with a game-high 16 markers, besting iFashion’s Odicta by a point.

Joeten 63 – Sacramento 16, Casabuena 11, Devero 7, J Sablan 7, C. Camacho 5, Umali 4, S. Fernandez 4, Cruz 2, R. Fernandez 2, Tankoy 2.

iFashion 69 – Odicta 15, Mi. Achas 11, Fernando 10, Villanueva 10, Bautista 7, Lapuz 2, R. Herrera 2, Delos Reyes 2.

Scoring by quarters: 10-8, 28-20, 46-36, 56-56, 63-59 (OT)

Mawati 74 – Salem 20, Dela Cruz 15, Taractac 8, Corotan 8, Enriquez 7, Reyes 6, V. Sablan 5, B. Dalusong 4, Avila 2, Tiribio 2, D. Dalusong 1, Rena 1.

Cell Pro 71 – L. Itaas18, Hernandez 17, J. Norita 14, Ro. Herrera 11, Dulfo 6, Rotap 3, Tibayan 2.

Scoring by quarters: 19-12, 39-27, 52-46, 74-71.