IN the showdown of undefeated teams, the Insurers backed by UTASSCO beat Water Market, 95-87, Tuesday night for its third straight win in the ongoing elimination round of the Power Forty-2011 Christmas basketball tournament at the Emilio Jaca Memorial gym.
Water Market took a single-digit lead in the first three periods behind Rey Mabalcon and Tony Ungria. But the Insurers went strong in the fourth period and crawled back from a 6-point 3rd quarter deficit to steal the win with a blistering, 31-17 run behind the trio of pointguard July Capala, Alex Mercado and former USJ-R Jaguar Rey Abarquez. But it was the heroics of Flor Yosores who delivered four crucial baskets in the final 1:30 that pushed the Insurers to the top.
July Capala, Alex Mercado and Rey Abarquez led the Insurers with 24, 20 and 15 points, respectively while Flor Yosores added 13 markers. Rey Mabalcon and Tony Ungria paced Water Market with 24 and 20 points, respectively while Allan Dela Rama added 17.
Earlier, FC Fortune of Chino Kalinga drubbed Park N’ Go of Romy Rama, 96-83, for its 1st win in three games. Both teams tote 1-2 cards.
Teody Ebrado paced FC Fortune with 33 points while Dodong Piezas and Nestor Javierto combined for 42 markers. Michael Arias led Park N’ Go with 43 points.
In the other game, Van System of Ed Nacario trounced Allyn & Sons, 98-92 to tie their victims with 1-2 cards. Jun Sumargo and Melvin Caumeran had 28 and 18 points, respectively for Van System, while Joel Cañete and Gidgeon Bughao paced Allyn & Sons with 34 and 30 markers.
BOX SCORES
FC FORTUNE (96)- Ebrado 33, Piezas 22, Javierto 20, Fuentes 11, Mosqueda 6, Mapait 2, Kalinga 2.
PARK N’ GO (83)- Arias 43, J. Rama 12, Ozon 10, Echavez 10, Pestaño 4, Albaño 2, R. Rama 2, Filosopo 2.
2nd game
INSURERS (95)- Capala 24, Mercado 20, Abarquez 15, F. Yosores 13, Tantay 12, Cabrera 3, S. Yosores 2, Sabejon 2, Yu 2, Abasolo 2.
W. MARKET (87)- Mabalcon 24, Ungria 20, Dela Rama 17, Flordeliza 8, Eleguin 8, Nacional 8, Dacalos 2.
3rd game
VAN SYSTEM (98)- Sumargo 28, Caumeran 18, Cabaluna 10, Cabatas 10, Genson 10, Nacario 8, Labalan 4, Dayota 4, Gabuya 4, Samson 2.
ALLYN & SONS (92)- Cañete 34, Bughao 30, Vernaiz 14, Lisondra 7, Sandal 4, Nuñez 3. /Correspondent Dale Rosal