AXE Proa extended its win streak in the Emon Lodge No. 179 Brotherhood Basketball League 2013/Docomo Pacific Cup after thumping Mariana Resort, 91-75, last Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The victory was sixth in as many games for AXE Proa, which remained on top of the team standings, ahead of two wins against Mobil (4-2) and Pacific Islands Club (4-2). Mariana Resort dropped to a 3-3 record, tying KFC/Taco Bell and Armatech for the third to fifth place in the team standings.

AXE Proa may have walked away with a 16-point winning margin, but its lead once stood at 7, 68-61, after Mariana Resort rallied in the early goings of the fourth canto. The final period started with Mariana Resort behind by 17, 51-65, but it sliced the deficit to single digits after launching a 10-3 run in the first three minutes of that canto. Leo Galarse led the uprising, opening the fourth frame with back-to-back triples, while Mike Saturno and Kelvin Fitial made the two other field goals.

AXE Proa, which got a split free throw from Keoni Chariton and a layup from Dan Barcinas in the opening three minutes of the payoff quarter, sued for time and when the game resumed, the latter converted a triple to bring back order to his team.

Mariana Resort tried anew to move closer, but only managed to cut the deficit to as low as 8 points, as Galarse went cold after a brief breather and was held to one free throw in the remaining minutes of the match. AXE Proa went on to put the finishing touches on its sixth win at the free throw line, canning nine charities.

Bryle Alegre and Ichitaro Faisao top-scored for AXE Proa with 12 points apiece, while Joseph Villacrusis, Jimmy Tudela, and Erick Dela Rosa added 9 each. Galarse had 20 points for Mariana Resort with played without Jawn Joyner and the suspended Tim Wesley, who was meted with a one-year ban after an unsportsmanlike foul on KFC/Taco Bell’s Jaymark De Guzman.

Armatech 78, Ol’Aces 72

In the first game, Armatech bagged its third win after slipping past the Ol’Aces.

Armatech recovered from the 10-point deficit in the first quarter and drew timely baskets from Junar Guiab and Elmer Esdrelon to eke out the 6-point win.

The Ol’Aces took a 26-16 advantage after the first period, as Chris Mizer drained two early triples and scored 10 points in that quarter. However, Armatech came out smoking in the second canto and held Mizer scoreless to grab the driver’s seat at the break, 43-38. Brandon Talania nailed two triples in the second canto, while Elmer Esdrelon made one, as Armatech fired 27 points against the 12 of the Ol’Aces.

The game remained close in the second half with Armatech getting the win in the end, as Guiab connected on back-to-back baskets and Esdrelon scored 3 straight points in the closing minutes of the fourth canto to offset the 7 markers of Mizer.

First Game

Armatech 78 – Guiab 16, Esdrelon 14, McCain 10, Talania 9, Manalo 8, Santos 8, Gabaldon 5, Berline 3.

Ol’Aces 72 – Mizer 20, Basa 11, Camacho 10, Litulumar 8, Olaitiman 8, Ogumoro 6, Renguul 4, Nekaifes 3, Norita 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-26, 43-38, 60-57, 78-72.

Second Game

AXE Proa 91 – Faisao 12, Alegre 12, Villacrusis 10, Dela Rosa 10, Tudela 10, Barcinas 9, Chariton 8, Babauta 4, Libuw 4, Johnson 4.

Mariana Resort 75 – Galarse 20, Moises 12, Mangali 10, Fitial 10, Paraiso 10, Sison 6, Saturno 3, Dayrit 2.

Scoring by quarters: 22-17, 47-28, 65-51, 91-75