Cell Pro, Inchcape advance in Blue Haus playoffs

Cell Pro and Inchcape advanced to the second round of the Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League playoffs after the conclusion of Saturday’s matches at the Gualo Rai Basketball Court.

C Bracket’s Cell Pro trailed Lyn’s BBQ for three quarters before turning on the jets to shoot past an eight-point deficit heading into the final period and win, 81-70.

A Bracket’s Inchcape played sloppy in the second matchup against Start Marianas, but still found a way to get the victory, 76-72.

The Blue Haus tournament utilizes a single-elimination format to determine a finalist in each of its three divisions.

Once determined, the three division champions will compete in a double round-robin format for the title.

Manolo Manalo paced Lyn’s BBQ with nine markers in the first quarter as they jumped out to a 21-14 lead after the tip.

Lyn’s BBQ then stretched it to a 41-30 margin at the break as Manalo and Dexter Tenorio teamed up for 12 points in the second period.

Cell Pro’s Rocyl Ritual provided the bulk of his team’s offense with 12 points in the first half.

Lyn’s BBQ maintained a promising 58-50 advantage at the start of the fourth quarter, but fell off a cliff in the final 10 minutes. Lyn’s BBQ was stuffed to just 12 points in the clutch, while Cell Pro erupted for 31.

Roger Herrera started the fire with 12 points in Cell Pro’s fashionably late performance.

Ritual led Cell Pro with 20 points, while Lyn’s BBQ’s Tenorio led all scorers with 25.

In the late match, Star Water took an early 20-13 lead in the opening period thanks largely to 10 points from Erwin Gomez, but Inchcape roared back in the second quarter and turned the table, 39-36, at halftime.

Inchcape’s Ian Castro led the charge with nine points in the comeback.

Inchcape came out sloppy in the third quarter but still managed a slim 59-57 edge, heading into crunch time. Inchcape’s Gilbert Miranda delivered six points late in the third quarter to help steady the ship.

Star Water came out with reckless abandon in the final period, as the match continued to go back and forth, but Inchcape pulled it together in the clutch to secure the win.

Veteran player Teddy Bugay came off the bench with six big points in the fourth period.

Miranda led his team with 20 points in the game, while Star Water’s Gomez turned in a game-high 27 on the short end.

Cell Pro 81 – Ritual 20, Herrera 17, Norita 16, L. Itaas 13, Hernandez 9, Loste 4, Tibayan 2.

Lyn’s BBQ 70 –Tenorio 25, Manalo 15, Calvo 14, Llagas 7, Vergara 7.

Scoring by quarters: 14-21, 41-30, 50-58, 81-70.

Inchcape 76 – Miranda 20, Castro 13, Bugay 11, Marchadesch 8, DL Guerrero 8, Echavez 6, Buniag 5, Quinto 3, Del Rosario 2.

Star Marianas 72 – Gomez 27, Tengco 12, Achas 11, Borja 11, Sacramento 10, Encarnacion 1.

Scoring by quarters: 13-20, 39-36, 59-57, 76-72.