Shocker Nation back on track, tops Pelicans

Shocker Nation recovered from its previous loss with an 86-79 triumph over the Pelicans in the second game in the 2014 DL Corp. Invitational Basketball League last Tuesday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

The win was Shocker Nation’s fourth in five games, putting the team in solo second place behind the unbeaten San Antonio (5-0) and Island Manpower (5-0). Shocker Nation absorbed its lone loss in the tournament so far at the hands of the defending champion Docomo (2-3).

The victory over the slumping Pelicans (1-4) was a come-from-behind one, as Shocker Nation was behind by 9 at the break, 34-43. A 31-11 scoring run in the third put Shock Nation back on top and it kept the upper hand and the victory after playing steady in the last three minutes of the fourth canto.

Shocker Nation showed poise in the closing minutes after the Pelicans sliced the once double-digit deficit, 54-65, to a deuce, 71-73, with Leo Galarse anchoring the team’s fight back in the final period and drawing some help from Luizi Reyes.

Reyes could have cut the lead to 1 if not for his split charity and after he made his second free throw, Shocker Nation went to attack the Pelicans defense on the other end. A drive-and-draw play at the right baseline started by Shane Deleon Guerrero and finished by Adrian Palacios fooled the Pelicans’ defense and gave Shocker Nation more cushion, 75-71, 3:01 left on the clock.

Lester Vertudez then made it a 76-71 advantage when he intercepted the Pelicans’ inbound pass and converted a point-blank shot. Shocker Nation was never threatened after that as it matched every basket the Pelicans drilled in the last two minutes of the match.

Meanwhile, Island Manpower also fought back against TBK Mechanics so stretch its winning run to five and grab a share of the lead with San Antonio.

Down at 64-76 after the third period, Island Manpower unloaded 33 big points in the payoff canto to steal the victory from TBK (3-2).

Jerome Norita towed Island Manpower back into the game after drilling 13 of his 23 markers in the fourth period. He, Cecilio Bisana, and Syl Teregeyo scored clutch baskets for Island Manpower in the closing minutes of the match. Pete Lizama and Ed Pangelinan also helped in the fourth, combining for 11 points.

TBK lost the lead and the game when its main gunners Ivan Devero and Jack Quitugua were held to 5 points in the fourth frame. Devero had only two field goals, while Quitugua was limited to one free throw, leaving Nate Mateo the tough job to keep TBK afloat.

First Game
Island Manpower 97 – Norita 26, Bisana 17, Tabora 14, Pangelinan 13, Teregeyo 13, Capalad 6, Lizama 6, Quizon 2.
TBK Mechanics 96 – Mateo 28, Quitugua 24, I. Devero 20, C. Devero 7, Catalla 7.
Scoring by quarters: 20-32, 42-52, 64-76, 97-96.

Second Game
Shocker Nation 86 – Deleon Guerrero 22, Vertudez 18, Palacios 15, Cadiang 11, De Leon 10, Cabrera 4, JP Villanueva 2.
Pelicans 79 – Galarse 27, Ogumoro 15, Reyes 14, Brennan 9, Santos 8.
Scoring by quarters: 19-16, 34-43, 65-54, 86-79.