Team MogMog Rats and Stars cruised their way into their fourth straight victory as they went on to beat a tough WCTC Red Rooster, 73-70 Sunday in the ongoing 2014 Filipino Master League basketball tournament at the Palau National gym.

The Rats and Stars controlled the tempo of the game as they established a 19-14 lead in the opening frame but was outscored in the second as the Red Roosters found their rhythm around the paint as the latter trailed, 30-32 at the end of the first half of play.

However, the MogMog Rats and Stars did not loose hope as they crawled back to the lead as they outwit WCTC with a 21-18 run in the third canto as they took a precarious 51-50 advantage. Going into the last frame, MogMog Rats and Stars did not faltered as they went all the way to outscore the Red Roosters with a 22-20 run to take the win.

Richard Alasagas topscored for Mogmog Rats and Stars with 16 as teammates Medel Cuyugan and Jojo Arevalo chipped in 15 and 11 baskets, respectively as they now sport a 4-1 win-loss record.

On the other hand, Jhun Carabot led the scoring chores for WCTC Red Rooster with 15 as Jojo Marino was held to only 12 points as they take a 2-2 card in the team standings.

In other games, Gilas Originals drubbed Surangel and Sons, 87-51; Melusch Dil dumped Kabalikat, 85-57; and Mason’s Hardware fended off PPR All Stud, 104-80.

Games will resume on September 7 with MogMog Rats and Stars versus Mason’s Hardware at 11 a.m. followed by the Melusch Dil-Surangel and Sons tussle at 12:30 p.m. as PPR All Stud will face WCTC Red Rooster at 2 p.m. while Gilas Originals will take on Kabalikat in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

The league will be under the supervision of the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF). By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)