WU five escapes Choppers while Rangers drub the Cardinals

League leader Western Union managed to hang on as they beat a hard fighting Aloha Maid Choppers, 102-100 Sunday in the Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National gym.

Leading 101-100 with barely 7.2 seconds left in the game, Western Union’s Dennis Castro managed to salvage them out of pesky situation. Castro split his charities in the free throw line that gave them a 102-100 breather.

The Choppers could have sent the game into over time or take the win in their next possession. But, Arvin Tacder fumbled the ball as he raced against time and was not able to take the last shot as the buzzer sounded.

Western Union thought it was a walk in the park as they took a precarious 101-97 advantage with the clock winding down. Choppers’ triggerman Jelson Talavera drilled a lethal three pointer that shook down Western Union’s early celebration. The Choppers, however, failed to send the game into over time giving the win to Western Union.

Anon Cajegas led the charge for Western Union with 31 points as Dennis Castro normed 28. The win further gave Western Union an edge over other teams as they continue their unbeaten record that stand at 8-0.

On the other hand, Arvin Pramo topscored for the Choppers with 39 despite leaving the game in the dying seconds because of leg cramps. His performance was complimented by Talavera’s 23 while Jojo Servantes chipped in 12 as they end their winning streak and sport a 6-2 win-loss record in the team standing.

Meanwhile, despite losing Nico Hinoza due to a leg injury in the early goings of their match the Royal Cargo Rangers managed to escape the Hanpa Cardinals, 90-64. It was a come from behind victory for the Rangers after trailing 14-22 in the opening quarter.

They managed to stage their run in the third as they spurted a 27-19 run and take a 63-55 lead. The Rangers continued with the game plan as they limited the Cardinals to 9 points in the final canto as to their 27 to take the win.

Rangers bigman Jay Naguit clipped 19 points as he led their cause with Lorens Heria chipping in 13 as they now take a 5-3 count in the team standings while Johnson Sicat led the charge for the Cardinals with 20 as they slipped to 2-6.

In other games, FR Spoilers drubbed the PECI Spartans, 116-60; and the Rams defeated the Jaguar, 83-74.

Games will resume on February 16 with the Ilocandia Bulls versus Jaguar at 11 a.m. followed by the Surangel Stars-Rams tussle at 12:30 p.m. as the Aloha Maid Choppers will meet PECI Spartans at 2 p.m. while Western Union will face the Liquid Skyy Dragons in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

Sponsors for this year’s season are Aqua Pure Water, ATT Karaoke and Bar, Blue Bay Petroleum, CTSI Palau, Hanpa Industrial Development Corporation, HBO, Kumangai Bakery, Midtown Gas Station, Mingles Tototo, MJ Trading, Palasia Hotel, Palau Pacific Resort, Palau Trading, Pinoy Express Remittance, Shimbros International, Surangel and Sons, The Taj Palau, Palau Curtain, Engr. Bobby Pineda and Western Caroline Trading Company (WCTC).

The Filipino Basketball League (FBL) is under the supervision of the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF). By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)




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