WU, Spoilers race to the top

Defending champion Western Union and team Spoilers are jacking for position for the top spot in the team standings after beating separate foes, Sunday in the ongoing 2011 Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National gym.

After surviving a slow start, Western Union bagged another win as they escaped a 74-71 victory over a hard fighting Aloha Maid Choppers. Taking a 23-19 lead in the first, Western Union’s leading scorer Erwin Senadre led the scoring chores as they took a 20-13 output to close the have with a 43-32 lead.

From there, Western Union never looked back as the Choppers found it hard to get the ball to the rim. Senadre topscored for Western Union with 24 while Emerson Patenia backed him up with 18 as they now sport a 14-2 win-loss column in the team standings.

Despite having an off night, the duo of PJ Esguerra and Mark Lofranco led the Choppers with identical 14 markers as they dropped to 8-8.

On the other hand, the Spoilers meant business as they beat the Jaguar, 105-70 to stay in contention for the top spot in the league.

From the opening quarter, the Spoilers made their strong presence felt as they established a 29-18 lead. From there, it was an easy sail for the Spoilers as they closed the first half with a 51-31 advantage.

The Spoilers broke the game wide open when they outscored the Jaguar in the fourth canto with a 24-17 run to take the game away. Michael Bombita led the charge for the Spoilers with 31 points as they are now 13-3 while Arlie Alba top gunned for the Jaguars with 19 as they are 6-10.

In other games, Hanpa Cardinals won over PNQ Rams, 69-57 and Mam’l Divers Rangers beat the Slashers, 79-66.

Games will resume on October 16 with the Jaguars versus Western Union at 11 a.m. followed by the Slashers-Aloha Maid Choppers tussle at 12:30 p.m. as Mam’l Divers Rangers will meet PNQ Rams at 2 p.m. while the Guardians will take on Surangel and Sons in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

This year’s FBL is sponsored by Aqua Drinking Water, ATT Bar and Restaurant, Blue Bay Petroleum Inc., Budget Mart 1, CTSI Logistics/Western Union, Engr. Bobby Pineda, Galaxy Dexigner, Galaxy Builders, Kabayan Restaurant, MJ Trading and General Merchandise, Palasia Hotel, Palau Royal Resort, Palau Shipping Co., PITI, Sea Passion Hotel, Shimbros Inc., The Print Zone, The Taj Restaurant, VMJ Construction and WCTC. The FBL is under the supervision of the Palau Basketball Federation.   By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)




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