Mariana Resort barged into the win column in the Emon Lodge No. 179 Brotherhood Basketball League 2013/Docomo Pacific Cup after outlasting the Ol’Aces, 80-77, last Thursday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Mariana Resort held the Ol’Aces (1-1) scoreless for about seven minutes in the second half and then withstood its foes’ late rally to recover from its 55-83 debut loss versus Armatech.

The Ol’Aces drought started midway in the third period, as they were stuck to 59 points for four minutes. Peter Camacho’s baseline drive at the 5:56 mark of the third gave the Ol’Aces a 59-53 lead that was wiped out by the end of that quarter with Mariana Resort launching a pivotal 11-0 run. Elgene Mangali contributed 4 points in the rally, while Rolly Paraiso made three free throws, and Ernie Moises and Jawn Joyner added one field goal apiece.

Mariana Resort stretched the 64-59 advantage to twin digits, 72-59, as the Ol’Aces remained silent in the opening three minutes of the final canto before Camacho’s shot underneath at the 6:55 mark broke the spell.

Camacho’s basket sparked the Ol’Aces’ comeback bid and they managed to bring the lead down to 2, 74-76, in the last 22 seconds, but Mariana Resort hung in there with the great inbound plays. The first one came after off Kelvin Fitial’s touchdown pass to Joyner. Fitial made the inbound from the back court after Trevor Ogumoro scored and cut the lead to a deuce and spotted the sprinting Joyner to the frontcourt. Joyner connected on the crucial basket and also got a foul. He missed the bonus shot, but Mariana Resort got the ball back as the Ol’Aces’ Leroy Rangamar touched the ball last in the rebound play before the leather went out of bounds.

Mariana Resort then did the inbound at the baseline with Marlon Sison quickly recognizing that Ol’Aces had yet to set up its defense and feeding Mangali to give their team more breathing space, 89-74, 7 seconds left on the clock. A triple from Preston Basa on the other end moved the Ol’Aces within 3 and that became the last basket in the match, as only one second was left on the clock and it ticked away after Mariana Resort’s inbound play.

Mangali paced Mariana Resort with his 20 points, while Fitial added 12, and Leo Galarse and Joyner chipped in 10 apiece.

Jesus Iguel led the Ol’Aces with his 17 markers, but was scoreless in the second and third periods. He dropped 12 in the opening canto to lift the Ol’Aces to a 22-17 lead and increased the advantage to 10 in the second canto before the monumental collapse in the third period.

Mariana Resort 80 — Mangali 20, Fitial 12, Galarse 10, Joyner 10, Paraiso 10, Wesley 5, Montes 4, Sanciangco 2, Sison 2, Moises 2.

Ol’Aces 77 — Iguel 17, Camacho 10, Basa 10, Olaitiman 9, Litulumar 8, Renguul 8, Ogumoro 6.

Scoring by quarters: 17-22, 37-45, 64-59, 80-77.