It’s payback time for Pacific Islands Club.

After losing to Armatch and eventually missing an outright semis stint, Pacific Islands Club got its sweet revenge, pulling off a come-from-behind 63-58 win in their playoff match in the Emon Lodge No. 179 Brotherhood Basketball League last Tuesday night at the packed Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The 5-point victory was a complete reversal of PIC’s fate just four days ago when it wasted a 13-point advantage in the fourth quarter and lost to Armatech in the last game of the regular season, 64-67. The defeat denied PIC an automatic entry to the semifinals so the San Antonio-based team was itching for vengeance and got it, eliminating Armatech from the competition.

It was Armatech’s turn to have a major breakdown when it bungled a 13-point lead, 55-42, in the 8:14 mark of the win-or-go home playoff match. A backbreaking 15-0 run for about five minutes wiped out Armatech’s double-digit advantage and put PIC on top, 57-55. Bart Demapan capped the big rally with his two charities and scored 8 in the nearly five-minute scoring spree.

A breakaway basket from Bruce Berline off a steal from PIC’s frontcourt stopped the bleeding for Armatech, but Demapan answered with a baseline jumper to put his team on top anew, 59-57, going into the final two minutes of the match. PIC hung on to the precarious lead after they traded misses with Armatech and Ken McCain went 0-for-2 from the foul line and also muffed a triple.

A teardrop basket from Nevin Salem off his own miss made it a 4-point game, 61-57, less than a minute left on the clock. Salem connected on the crucial basket after missing a triple, picking up the long rebound, and going for a quick release near the right side of the free-throw area.

Down by two possessions, Armatech had a chance to move closer, but Bruce Berline split his charities, while Darwin Barbo went 2-for-2 on the other end to ice it for PIC, 16 seconds left in the game.

Barbo and Demapan finished in double figures for PIC, tallying 19 and 17 points, while Elmer Esdrelon was the only Armatech player to score in twin digits with 18. However, Esdrelon was held scoreless in the last eight minutes after drilling a triple and a bad slip early in the fourth. Armatech scored only 3 points, all from Berline, in the last 8:14 of the match.

Meanwhile, Mariana Resort outclassed KFC/Taco Bell in the other playoff match, 72-58.

After falling behind in the first period, 16-20, Mariana Resort buckled down to work in the second canto en route to the 14-point victory. Mariana Resort fired 25 points, while KFC/Taco Bell had only 14 in the second canto, putting the former in front at halftime, 41-34.

The second-quarter assault was a team effort for Mariana Resort, which also leaned on its 3-point shooting to grab control of the game from KFC. Mariana Resort connected on three triples in the second canto and kept going in the last two periods to eliminate KFC.

Elgene Mangali paced Mariana Resort with his 21 points, Rolly Paraiso added 14, while Jawn Joyner and Kelvin Fitial contributed 12 and 10, respectively.

KFC missed a semis entry, as it failed to get its offensive game going against the much taller and veteran crew of Mariana Resort. KFC scored no more than 14 points in each of the last three quarters.

With the win, Mariana Resort faces the unbeaten Proa in the first semis match today at 6:30pm, while PIC takes on defending champion Mobil in the second game at 8pm.

First Game

Mariana Resort 72 – Mangali 21, Paraiso 14, Joyner 12, Fitial 10, Sison 5, Galarse 5, Dayrit 3.

KFC/Taco Bell 58 – Pagarao 12, Devero 11, Bahillo 10, De Guzman 8, Francisco 4, Camacho 4, Fernando 4, Brown 2.

Scoring by quarters: 16-20, 41-34, 53-45, 72-58.

Second Game

PIC 63 – Barbo 19, Demapan 17, Abuy 8, Ne. Salem 6, Castro 4, Ni. Salem 2, Hambros 1.

Armatech 58 – Esdrelon 18, Talania 8, Berline 5, David 4, De Dios 4, Manalo 4, Gabaldon 3, McCain 3, Santos 2.
Scoring by quarters: 13-16, 25-30, 42-50, 63-58.