Defending champion FR Spoilers showed dominance in the last quarter enough to fuel a 114-88 victory over a hard fighting Surangel Stars, Sunday in the 2014 season of the Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National gym.

The Spoilers were actually behind 19-22 in the first quarter but was able to regain momentum in the second canto as they outrun the Stars with a 26-22 output to close the first half to take a 45-44 lead.

Then the Spoilers took a 75-69 advantage in the third and from there never looked back as they managed to contain the Stars to score the win. Coco Gonzales finished the game with 32 as teammates Michael Bombita and Francis Tan chipped in 29 and 20, respectively.

The Stars, on the other hand, kept their heads up high as they fought a gallant stand against the defending champs as they suffered their first loss of the season to sport a 2-1 win-loss record. Arnold Undecimo topscored for the Stars with 25 as Rex de Asis complemented it with 20 on the losing end.

Meanwhile, the Ilocandia Bulls surpassed the Royal Cargo Rangers, 102-97. The Bulls caught fire in the final canto as Ryan Cacho, Marvic Ngchar and RB Dorado took over the scoring chores.

Dorado led all scorers with 26 as Cacho and Ngchar added 22 and 18, respectively.

In other games, Jelson Talavera waxed hot with 27 to lead the Aloha Maid Choppers past the Rams, 88-71 while Liquid Skyy Dragons drubbed PNQ Crushers, 82-62.

Games will resume on December 15 with the Jaguars versus FR Spoilers at 11 a.m. followed by the PNQ Crushers-Western Union tussle at 12:30 p.m. as PECI Spartans will face Royal Cargo Rangers at 2 p.m. while Hanpa Cardinals will test the Aloha Maid Choppers 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)