FTMP outlasts Dream Team in OT

It took Funky Town Monkey Pimps five extra minutes to thwart the Dream Team, 64-63, in the curtain-raiser in the 2013 Sun Palace Christmas Basketball Tournament last Saturday night at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Neil Francisco and Jason Lampkin delivered the clutch baskets for FTMP in overtime, making 5 points each. Francisco, who was scoreless in the second half after notching 6 early points, dropped FTMP’s first and last baskets in the extension with his triple in the closing seconds sealing the victory for the team. Lampkin also canned a triple in overtime, hitting 5 straight points after Francisco opened the extension with a 2-point basket. Dai Lixing scored the other basket for FTMP in overtime.

With the close victory, FTMP barged into the win column and recovered from a 64-71 loss to Rollers 3 in the league opener last week. The all-female crew of Dream Team is still winless in two games, falling short against FTMP in overtime after no player on its roster made more than one field goal in the extra period.

Dream Team also missed in overtime the contribution of Kyla Ito, who knocked in 10 points in the second half and helped the squad turn a 24-27 halftime deficit to a deadlock at the end of the regulation. Ito was scoreless in the extra five minutes of play.

In the other boys division game, Rollers 2 kept its perfect record (3-0) after defeating the slumping Rollers 5 (0-3).

Sam Darag and Mike Espinosa top-scored for Rollers 2, firing 11 points apiece. They also drew enough help from their teammates, as four of them canned at least three baskets apiece. John John Capuyon chipped in 8, Jomac Manzano and Jun Fidelio contributed 7 each, and Mike Cenir had 6.

Darag logged all his 11 points in the first half, which ended with Rollers 1 ahead by 7, 26-19. Rollers 2 kept the lead, as Epinosa, who had only two field goals in the opening half, took over from Darag in the second, and his other teammates also chipped in.

Though Rollers 5 lost anew, as a consolation, its main gunner Ylac Caracut led all scorers with his 14 markers. Emmanuel Cobacha also finished in twin digits with his 12 points.

Also maintaining a clean slate was Hula Girls, which improved to a 2-0 mark after easing past Futball (0-2).

Four players scored double figures in Hula Girls’ easy victory. Ira Palero led the team with her 12 points, Friendly Joy Pena recorded 11, and Irish Pagarao and Jan Travilla earned 10 apiece.

Travilla and Palero combined for 16 points in the first half, lifting Hula Girls to a 26-14 advantage at the break. Hula Girls then protected the double-digit margin, as Pagarao and Pena also lit up the board on multiple occasions in the second half.

Futball failed to make any headway in the final half to slice the deficit to a decent number. No Futball player finished in twin digits as the best that Jeralyn Castillo could do was score 8 points.

FTMP 64 – Montes 18, Francisco 11, Lampkin 11, Lixing 8, Domingo 5, Mora 4, Omengkar 4, Del Rosario 2.

Dream Team 63 – Ito 12, Pagarao 9, Alipip 6, Abrams 6, Alegre 6, Palero 6, Travilla 5, Pensa 5, Williams 4, Castillo 2, Kautz 2.

Scoring by halves: 27-24, 52-52, 64-63 (OT).

Rollers 2 53 – Darag 11, Espinosa 11, Capuyon 8, Manzano 7, Fidelino 7, Cenir 6.

Rollers 5 44 – Caracut 14, Cobacha 12, Ogumoro 8, Yu 7, Mamaril 4.

Scoring by halves: 26-19, 53-44.

Hula Girls 51 – I. Palero 12, Pensa 11, Pagarao 10, Travilla 10, Gatchalian 4, Javier 4.

Futball 28 – Castillo 8, Rastguiy 6, Lee 6, Vargas 6, Enriquez 2.

Scoring by halves: 26-14, 51-28.