Navarro lifts JS Contractors past Reunited

JS CONTRACTOR backed by Mawin’s Kitchen and Alberto’s Pizza improved to 3-2 (win-loss) after edging Reunited, 91-89 last Monday night in the Punta Princesa Ball Club (PPBC)-2011 Second Conference basketball tournament at the Vicente Sotto Memorial gym.

The Contractors grabbed a slim, 24-21 lead in the opening period with bull-strong center Argiel Magan and Ciobern Mante leading the early assault. But Reunited responded with a blistering 29-20 rally in the 2nd canto to take a, 50-44 lead at the half behind Keith Dinoy and Richie Tecson.

Reunited continuously spewed fire in the 3rd period to erect a 69-62 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Both camps engaged in an air-tight battle in the fourth resulting in several deadlocks and lead changes until Sherwin Lequit’s fastbreak lay-up gave the Contractors a 77-75 lead with 2:10 remaining. But Richie Tecson and Ruben Abarquez canned crucial baskets as Reunited took an 89-86 lead with 16 seconds left. However, in the return play, Lito Navarro nailed a booming triple to tie the count at 89-all then followed it with a buzzer-beating jumper for the pulse-stopping two-point victory.

Algier Magan led the Contractors with 24 points while Navarro added 22 markers. Richie Tecson and Keith Dinoy paced Reunited with 18 and 14 points, respectively.

BOX SCORES

CONTRACTORS (91)- Magan 24, Navarro 22, Lequit 10, Mante 7, Arias 7, Daclan 6, Tañeza 5, Ramos 4, Tabar 2, Baclaan 2, R. Alesna 2.

REUNITED (89)- Tecson 18, Dinoy 14, Abarquez 12, Y. Alesna 10, Camota 7, Monterroyo 6, Ortiz 6, Murillo 6, Cañada 5, Castañares 3, Villaver 2. /Correspondent Dale Rosal