Jets slip past MDX in UFO Docomo Cup

The AFP/Jets handed MDX its first loss in the UFO Inter-Organization Youth Basketball Docomo Pacific Cup 2011 after escaping with an 89-86 win during their game last Saturday at the TSL Sports Complex.

MDX had its two-game winning run snapped after wasting an 11-point advantage in the early goings of the fourth quarter. The Jets stole the victory after outgunning MDX in the payoff period, 25-13. The two teams are now tied for the lead with their similar 2-1 records.

Sajh Hossain led the Jets’ come-from-behind win, knocking in seven points in the fourth quarter, four of them were made in the closing seconds of the match. Kevin De Leon also helped the Jets’ cause, drilling five of his seven markers in the final canto. Ton Webb and Ezra Caro combined for nine to give the Jets the needed lift at crunch time.

Dave Rollon was the lone MDX player to hit more than one field goal in the fourth and finished with a team second-best 20 markers. Matt Duenas paced MDX with 27, but was scoreless in the payoff period.

Duenas and Rollon worked early for MDX, as they teamed up for 16 first-quarter points for their 26-22 lead. Hossain and Eugene Manglona kept the Jets afloat, firing seven and 10 points, respectively.

The MDX 1-2 punch reasserted its might on offense in the second period, while Hossain lost an ally when Manglona was held to only a field goal. With Duenas and Rollon still at it, MDX kept the driver’s seat at the break, 54-46.

Rollon slowed down in the third, but Duenas was there to keep the fire burning, adding 11 more points and stretching MDX’s lead to nine, 73-65. Duenas won his third-quarter duel against Hossain, who canned only two field goals in that canto.

MDX made in an 11-point advantage, 75-64, after James Rabauliman’s basket at the start of the fourth period. However, the Jets slowly closed in with Hossain piloting the recovery and his three other teammates providing the needed support.

In the other game last weekend, Filcag/Rollers outclassed Samahang Ilokano at Pangasinense, 83-75.

Josh Kiyoshi, Brandon Aurelio, and Pat Torres joined forces in giving Filcag its first win in two games.

Kiyoshi and Aurelio were simply too much for SIP, as the former logged 25 big points and the latter chipped in 15. SIP’s leading scorer—Jack Aranda—mustered only 12, making most of them when Filcag was already in control of the match.

Kiyoshi was unstoppable in the third period where he scored 13 straight points to power Filcag to a 60-55 lead, entering the final canto.

Kiyoshi added six more in the fourth, but the quarter belonged to Torres, who nailed nine of his 11 markers in that canto. Aurelio contributed five.

Filcag/Rollers 83 – Kiyoshi 25, Aulerio15, Galarse 12, Torres 11, Namelo 4, Brennan 4, Cruz 4, Eubanks 4, Iglecias 2.

SIP 75 – Aranda 12, R. Salem 11, Alegre 10, Cenir 9, De Guzman 8, Saturno 7, Darag 6, N. Salem 6, Palacios 5.

Scoring by quarters: 21-15, 37-40, 60-55, 83-75.

AFP/Jets 89 – Hossain 33, Manglona 18, Webb 11, Deleon 7, Caro 5, Aguilar 4, Cadiang 3, Benavente 3.

MDX 86 – Duenas 27, Rollon 20, Devero 10, Metran 6, Maranan 4, Castro 4, Vertudez 4, Ano 4, Salas 3, Rabauliman 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-26, 46-54, 64-73, 89-86.