The Nuggets avoided losing an already won

game over the Iskul Bocol Decepticons, 42-39. Yasmuan and De Guzman led the Nuggets scoring 12 and nine points respectively. Iskul Bocol’s Sunga took on the scoring cudgels for his team scoring a game high 23 points in his debut game.

The game started on a high note not in terms of scoring but in terms of non-basketball related action with Nuggets’ Villanueva and Decepticons’ Seguerra having an altercation early on in the first quarter. The highlight of this entanglement was Villanueva’s ‘pompyang’ action on Seguerra reminiscent of what FPJ does to his foes after a barrage of punches. This led to technical fouls being called on the two players and Villanueva’s ejection from the game. The Nuggets wouldn’t be denied however as they capitalized on the

Decepticon’s lack of offense with main man Moreno missing in action in the first half. The Nuggets took the lead 10-1 at the end of the first and 27-10 at the end of the second quarter.

The game ended on a heated note this time in terms of basketball action with the teams having their chance of winning the game with seconds left. The Decepticons came back in the game with Sunga’s inspired third quarter plays and Iskul Bocol’s main man Moreno arriving in the fourth quarter. Moreno’s arrival transformed his team literally, as he brought with him the top part of his team’s jersey. The lead which stood at 17 at the half was cut to a solitary point with Seguerra’s three points late in the fourth quarter, 35-36. The Decepticons even had their chance of getting the lead (which they last tasted at 1-0) with Moreno shooting two free-throws and the score pegged at 35-36. Moreno had a split at the charity stripe tying the game at 36-36. The Decepticons failed to score from the line and from short

stabs at the basket all of which could have served as their go-ahead basket. The Nuggets doused the fourth quarter

fire ignited by the Decepticons with free-throws and a key basket from De Guzman with seconds left in the game.

Quarter Scores: 10-1; 27-10; 35-23; 42-39

Nuggets – Yasmuan- 12; De Guzman- 9; Pantaleon- 7; Sy- 6; Catibayan- 6; Yu- 2; Carlos – 0; Nolido- 0; Villanueva- 0

Decepticons- Sunga- 23; Moreno- 6; Seguerra- 6; Natural- 4; Co- 0; Abano; Dela Cruz- 0; Fernandez- 0; Manlapid- 0; Morales- 0; Pedreno- 0