Defending champion Peched Raw and 4x4 Wheelers muscled their way as they continued their winning ways, Friday night in the ongoing 2012 season of the IP&E National Basketball League (NBL) at the Palau National gym.

Peched Raw maintained its clean record in the team standings after beating Melengoes, 105-67. Trailing 19-21 after the opening period, Peched Raw found their shooting touch in the second canto as they outrun Melengoes with a 30-15 run to take a 49-36 lead at the end of the first half.

From there, Peched Raw maintained the lead and went on to score the win and keep their win-loss record clean at 13-0 as Douglas Schmidt finished with 35 points while Shmull Rekemesik tallied 30 baskets for Melengoes as they are 1-12.

On the other hand, 4x4 Wheelers continued its mastery as they fend off the highly financed FR Spoilers, 90-69. 4x4 Wheelers showed no mercy as they battled the Spoilers toe to toe from the opening tip off till the final buzzer.

Russel Roman and Temol Malsol led the scoring chores for 4x4 Wheelers with 19 and 14 markers as they are now 9-3 while Leonilo Gonzales finished with 29 for the Spoilers as they sport a 7-4 card.

In other games, Kabong beat Islanders, 75-69; Peched Raw bested Aqua Smooth, 87-85 and Meda top Surangel Kings, 74-34.

Games resume tonight with Melengoes versus Surangel Kings at 6 p.m. as Islanders will face Meda at 9 p.m. Tomorrow’s game will have Peched Raw against Surangel Kings at 7:30 p.m. as Kabong meets Spoilers at 9 p.m.

Thursday matches will feature 4x4 Wheelers taking on Mercury Optimax at 6 p.m. while Kabong will face Peched Raw at 9 p.m.

The tournament, which is supervised by the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF), is a tobacco, alcohol and drug free program. Any violators will be banned from participating. For more information call Topps at 488-4491.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)