Jawn Joyner and Ivan Devero executed fast break plays to control a tense second half and hand Mafea-Ali’i Konflikt a 94-80 win in the 2011 United Filipino Organization Basketball League-Budweiser Cup finals at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium on Tuesday.
Elmer Esdrelon cracked a smile on his face despite cringing from a leg pain due to an injury.
Team Konflikt made their winning run in the third quarter, overturning a four-point deficit and outscoring Proa, 25-14.
The back-to-back champions successfully cornered Pete Iguel in the fourth quarter, allowing him no baskets.
Devero hammered a layup between Jack Lizama and Gino Libuw and returned for an undefended shot after Joyner’s rebound.
Hoping to regroup, Proa called a timeout halfway through the period just seconds after Mike Babauta’s defensive foul.
Konflikt however, jumped to a 10-point lead after Devero’s third shot. JR Barrios slipped in a three-pointer and Brandon Talania ran straight for a layup to bury their foes on a 67-58 lead.
“We already knew what they were going to do,” said Devero, who was barely touched by Proa’s defense.
“We just finished it and it feels great.”
Iguel struggled in the offense, missing three shots behind the three-point line during the fourth quarter.
Devero posted 12 of his 20 points in the second half, marking six steals with six blocks and six rebounds. Joyner bagged the highest score with 23 points while Barrios tallied 16.
Elmer Esdrelon squeezed in two more points before injuring his leg in the final minute.
He and Mendoza scored 12 and 13 points, respectively.
“The only strategy we had was to play as a team and we did. We stuck together from jumpball to the final whistle,” Konflikt manager Norman Del Rosario told Variety.
Proa had earlier drawn a bye in the quarterfinals and eliminated Mobil to reach the championship.
Konflikt’s roster also included: Badong Camacho, Junar Guiab, Bernard Aquino, Brandon Talania, White Capalad, Jomar Tumaquip, and George Cruz.
Scores:
Mafea-Ali’i Konflikt 94 – J. Joyner 23, I. Devero 20, J. Barrios 16, E. Mendoza 13, E. Esdrelon 12, B. Talania 4, J. Tumaquip 4, J. Guiab 2
Namfrel-Proa 80 – J. Lizama 21, P. Iguel 18, D. Barcinas 15, G. Libuw 15, J. Sablan 6, K. Chariton 3, K. Ogumorro 2
Quarterscores: 24-18, 42-44, 67-58, 94-80
Mobil 90, Andoks 86
Meanwhile, team Bayani-Mobil secured a 90-86 victory over Cavite-Andoks in their consolation game.
Mobil had to make do without Jun Estolas and recovered in the final quarter to settle for third place, right below Namfrel-Proa.
Trailing Andoks by eight points, center Larry Sharry came through on back-to-back field goals while Gyles Ruluked and Ernie Moises blasted three-pointers. Two minutes later, Leo Factor and Ron Gamboa came from behind to add four points to Mobil’s belt.
Andoks’ Fred Pelisamen — who earned 10 points alone in the third period — mustered only two free throws during the closing minutes.
Mobil stormed away in the first quarter and led, 23-15 but fell behind, 32-36 by the end of the first half.
Andoks stayed ahead, 60-68 in third period.
Mobil’s double digit scorers Angelo Fernando and Ernie Moises garnered 19 and 13 points, respectively.
Dayrit however, topped the scoreboard with 22 points followed by 20 from Pelisamen.
Scores:
Bayani-Mobil 90 – A. Fernando 19, E. Moises 13, L. Sharry 13, L. Factor 11, G. Ruluked 11, J. De Guzman 10, R. Gamboa 6, G. Gapor 5, T. Wenceslao 2
Cavite-Andoks 86 – J. Dayrit 22, F. Pelisamen 20, J. Llagas 12, T. Wesley 12, M. Umali 12, J. Artates 8
Quarterscores: 23-15, 32-36, 60-68, 90-86
