DPS, Fire notch third win in IGBL

A DPS player, left, tries to muscle his way past the defense of two IT&E players during the second game in the inter-government/business caging last Monday at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

DPS and Fire posted contrasting wins in the 2016 IT&E Inter-Government/Business Basketball League last Monday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Fire pulled off a 69-62 victory over the Feds in the curtain-raiser, while DPS crushed IT&E, 118-68, in the second match.

DPS now has a 3-1 record for second place in the team standings of Pool A. T Galleria and MJD Enterprises, pending the results of last Wednesday’s matches, lead the group with their similar 4-0 cards, while IT&E is tied with NMSA for fourth place with their similar 1-2 marks. Commonwealth Ports Authority (1-3), Docomo 2 (0-3), and BECQ (0-3) round out the field.

Fire also owns a 3-1 slate to rank second in Pool B behind the unbeaten Pacific Islands Club (3-0). CHCC shares the second spot with Fire, while Best Sunshine International (2-1) is at third place and followed by Customs (2-2), GPPC (1-2), Feds (0-3), and Docomo 1 (0-4).

Fire took the 7-point win against the Feds after drawing clutch baskets from Ben Lisua. Lisua made two of the team’s last two field goals and finished in double figures with his 17 markers.

Lisua had to save Fire as the Feds mounted a comeback in the second half behind the 23 points of Ron Gamboa. Fire led by twin digits in the first quarter, 16-5, with Lisua, knocking in 6 points and it kept its safe distance at the half, 29-20, with S. Pua contributing 8 points.

The Fire advantage then went down to 4, 49-45, as Gamboa began to heat up, scoring 19 in the third quarter alone, including the Feds’ last 10 markers.

Gamboa was then held to a field goal in the final canto, while Lisua, Pua, and John Santos teamed up for Fire in outgunning the Feds.

In the second game, Freddie Pelisamen sizzled for 37 points to help DPS rout IT&E.

Dixon Kwon and Kelvin Fitial backed up Pelisamen, adding 20 and 12 markers, respectively.

DPS had the game in the bag right in the first half when it led, 58-34. Despite the huge lead, DPS showed no mercy as it continued to pressure IT&E in the fourth quarter to force turnovers, which the winning squad turned into points.

Meanwhile, in other basketball results at the Ada gym, the Ol’Aces won the battle of undefeated teams in the U15 division of the Inaugural Frank M. Diaz Memorial Youth League after downing the 670 Sonics, 54-48, last Saturday.

The Ol’Aces extended their winning run to five, while the 670 Sonics absorbed their first loss after a 4-0 start.

Napu Atalig led the Ol’Aces with his 18 points, making back-to-back field goals down the stretch to keep his team on top. Rikko Saralu chipped in 17.

In the other U15 match last weekend, Wong escaped with a 48-47 victory over the Tanapag Warriors, behind the basket of Greg De Leon Guerrero. Wong improved to a 3-1 record for third place in the team standings, while the Warriors are in fourth spot with their 2-3 card.