White Haus clinches playoff berth

White Haus’ Dan Hernandez, left, and Jun Tabora, right, challenge the shot of Empe Light’s Sean Rabasto during the second quarter of their game in the IT&E-sponsored Ali’i Blue Haus caging last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

White Haus advanced to the playoff round of the 2nd Ali’i Blue Haus Invitational Basketball League following a 107-106 overtime win over Empe Light last Sunday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

It was a come-from-behind victory for White Haus, which was down by as many as 17 points in the second quarter and was still behind by 8 at the end of the third before making a run in the final canto and stealing the win in the extension period.

White Haus exploded for 30 points in the fourth quarter for its biggest output in the game. Ten of them came from Jun Tabora, who also drilled White Haus’ last two field goals to send the match in overtime. Darwin Barbo added a pair of important free throws, while Dan Hernandez and Paul Quizon knocked in triples in the fourth canto to help White Haus get back into the game.

Hernandez and Tabora also scored in the extra five minutes of the match, but it was the last 5 points of unlikely hero Biboy Centina that lifted White Haus to the close win.

With the tough victory, White Haus improved its record to 6-4 for fifth place in the team standings and a spot to the eight-squad playoff round, joining early qualifiers Silencer (8-2), Black Mamba (7-2), Tropang Ridhors (7-4), and Batang Bear Brand (6-3).

Empe Light fell to a 3-7 slate with one game left in the elimination round and has to wait for the results of the remaining matches to determine its playoff chances. Empe Light is at the No. 11 spot in the team rankings behind Spigen (5-5), Green Minded (5-6), Team Sawi (4-5), Gold Ballers (4-6), and Vendetta (4-6) and ahead of the Green Archers (1-10), which is the first team to be booted out in the tournament.

Vendetta, which defeated the Green Archers in last Sunday’s third game, 95-89, suddenly kept its playoff hopes alive and won’t be joining the latter to the exit door as earlier reported.

James Dela Cruz, Ed Pangilinan, and Dexter Tenorio teamed up in giving Vendetta its fourth straight victory as all three scored in double figures. Dela Cruz had a team-high 27 points, while Pangelinan and Tenorio chipped in 24 and 20, respectively.

Pangelinan nailed 6 consecutive markers in the homestretch to foil the Green Archers’ comeback bid, while Dela Cruz registered 10 points in the fourth canto.

Second Game
White Haus 107—Tabora 30, Barbo 23, Nonato 20, Hernandez 14, Ocampo 9, Quizon 6, Centina 5.
Empe Light 106 — Rabasto 33, Reyes 24, Lerio 22, Gallardo 12, Espinosa 9, Peredo 6.
Scoring by quarters: 17-24, 35-50, 64-72, 94-94, 107-106 (OT).

Third Game
Vendetta 95 — Dela Cruz 27, Pangelinan 24, Tenorio 20, Libuw 10, Castro 11, Yarofalir 3.
Green Archers 89 — Ferrer 31, Demapan 24, Danipog 20, Pestillos 8, Enriquez 6, Mendiola 2.
Scoring by quarters: 21-17, 42-40, 68-66, 95-89.