However, that wasn’t the case as Mobil’s Jun Estolas and Marvin Rabauliman ruled the court to eliminate the Ferrera Builders, 69-64 in their quarterfinal game of the 2nd QQ Car Rental Basketball Invitational Cup at Garapan last Wednesday.
Estolas didn’t disappoint as he tallied 28 points to counter a swift offensive from duo Kae Bernardo and Wowie Abuel.
This was Ferrera’s second upset since their championship game against Docomo Pacific last November, which also had Estolas, among others.
Bernardo scored nine of his 17 points in the first half and Abuel added nine more to gain a 36-33 lead over Mobil in the second quarter.
Rabauliman’s unrelenting layups and Angelo Fernando’s versatile shooting didn’t make the game any easier for Ferrera, especially with George De Guzman waiting in the defense.
Estolas tried to finish early in the third quarter, where he posted 13 points in addition to six from Rabauliman.
Ferrera’s collapse began with Noel David and Rex Yabut’s ejection, both of whom scored two points each. Abuel capped off with his third three-pointer and Bernardo rallied for more six points.
Mobil triumphed as Estolas, Rabauliman, and Fernando hammered five free throws to hold their lead.
Team Mobil will face the Sonics in tonight’s semifinals, along with a showdown between Konflikt and the Smart Cagers. Winners from both games will advance to the QQ Cup’s championship game on July 4.
Scores:
Mobil 69 — J. Estolas 28, M. Rabauliman 19, A. Fernando 12, G. Ruluked 8, E. Abuan 2
Ferrera Builders 64 — K. Bernardo 17, W. Abuel 15, B. Demapan 10, M. Cruz 8, A. Mortos 5, J. Abuy 3, G. Miranda 2, R. Yabut 2, N. David 2
Quarterscores: 18-17, 36-33, 48-56, 64-69
Konflikt 71, Blue Hauz 63
Meanwhile, Elmer Esdrelon and team Konflikt spent no time dilly-dallying and crushed Blue Hauz, 71-63 in an earlier game.
The come back was also an upset to Blue Hauz, who dominated the first three quarters on steady shooting from Dave Sablan and Brandon Talania.
Esdrelon — landing only two points in the first half — came around with 11 in the third quarter and two late-game 3’s for a 21 total. James Joyner, Budz Camacho, and Jomar Tumaquip each scored 12 points on a series of run-and-gun plays.
Talania and Sablan shot back-to-back three-pointers as Blue Hauz led, 18-15 in the first quarter.
Camacho fired back with three straight layups and Elgin Mangali found an opening for his jump shot. Esdrelon led their careful offense, avoiding as much turnovers as possible.
Sablan tallied 10 of his game high 25 points in the first half while Edwin Santos piled nine.
Joyner blasted another three-pointer and Camacho followed with a layup for the Konflikts’ 61st point in the final period. Bon Tamayo didn’t leave empty handed after hammering a free throw before the buzzer. Gino Libuw and Mangali posted eight and five points, respectively.
Scores:
Konflikt 71 — E. Esdrelon 21, J. Joyner 12, B. Camacho 12, J. Tumaquip 12, G. Libuw 8, E. Mangali 5, B. Tamayo 1
Blue Hauz 63 — D. Sablan 25, B. Talania 15, E. Santos 13, J. Tabora 6, S. Fernandez 2, R. Sacramento 2
Quarterscores: 18-15, 34-31, 50-49, 63-71
