Contenders Ilocandia Bulls showed their patience as they went on to beat a tough Surangel Stars, 98-83 to take solo lead in the team standings of the 2013 season of the Filipino Basketball League at the Palau National gym.

Leading 49-36 going into the third canto, the Bulls got the scare as Surangel Stars managed to outscore them and cut down the lead at 65-64 with 2 minutes. But the Bulls managed to weather the storm as Joeger Supnet and Raul Osias muscled their way in the paint as they close the quarter taking a 70-64 advantage.

The Bulls add more misery to the Surangel Stars offense as they kept them score less for three minutes of play as they spurted a 9-1 run to established a 79-65 lead with 7:40 remaining in the game. From there, the Bulls did much of the damage as they outran Surangel Stars with a 28-19 tally to score the win.

Supnet finished the game for the Bulls with 22 as Osias added 18 as they now sport a 3-0 win-loss record in the team standings while Bong Gayongorza paced Surangel Stars with 23 as rookie Tabquero chipped in 20 as Surangel Stars, who were playing minus ace scorer Arnold Undecimo, suffered its first setback for a 2-1 tally.

On the other hand, the PRA Choppers barged their way into the winning column as they went on to beat the Jaguars, 70-48. Bon-Bon Pramo led the scoring chores for the Choppers with 18 as Marck Ganac led the Jaguars with 10.

In other games, FR Spoilers drubbed the Jr. Nationals, 88-65 while Western Union routed Liquid Skyy, 81-57.

Games will resume on April 14 with PRA Choppers versus PNQ Rams at 11 a.m. followed by the Jaguars-Hanpa Cardinals tussle at 12:30 p.m. FR Spoilers will meet Surangel Stars at 2 p.m. while Western Union will test the Jr. Nationals in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

Games are supervised by the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF). This year’s FBL League is supported by ATT Bar and Restaurant, HE Automotive, Palasia Hotel, Palau Royal Resort, FR Construction, Engrs. Jun dela Cruz, Bobby Pineda, and Benjamin Asuncion, Budget Mart II, Kabayan Restaurant and Aqua Water.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)