Second straight victory in NBC hoop

Ardy Larong lived up to his "Robocop" billing as he played the roles as executioner and a spoiler when the Hapee-Dewfoam Mantawi Sparkling Knights scored an 88-75 rout of the Iligan Crusaders in a game marred by a near rumble last Sunday in the Panasonic-NBC National Championship at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.

With only 1:49 left in the fourth period and Hapee was protecting a 79-71 lead, tension flared when Bacoleño referee Macoy Edango whistled a foul on Iligan's Melvin Faustino, who played a solid third quarter defense on Larong.

The Crusaders did not like the call that resulted to the ejection of their coach Billy Reyes. While Reyes was heading to the dugout, somebody from the stage, who did not like Reyes' attitude, threw a monoblock chair that almost sparked a basket-brawl as all Iligan players cleared their bench and rushed to the stage to defend their coach.

The NBC referees actually could take the blame for their failure to call attention on Larong and Faustino, who engaged in a physical game late in the fourth quarter. Left unnoticed, Larong headbutted Faustino mildly. Faustino retaliated by hitting Larong mildly at the face, a few seconds before Reyes' ejection.

In the return play with Iligan on the offensive, Larong extended his elbow, pretending to scratch his head when he ran towards Faustino and from that sequence, referee Edango slapped a blocking foul on Faustino that incited a very negative protest from the Iligan bench.

What could have been an ugly basketball scene was prevented by the proverbial cooler heads. The organizers later requested the presence of uniformed policemen at the venue.

Hapee, which has a 2-0 record at home, is playing its first road game tomorrow against the Iloilo Warriors. Coach Jun Noel and his wards are coming back to Mandaue on July 5 to host the Cavite Insurers.

Larong led the expansion team supported by mayor Thadeo "Teddy" Ouano with a superb all-around game scoring 24 points, spiked by four triples, on top of eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.

Veteran pointguard Maui Huelar backed up Larong's strong performance with 13 points, a season-high eight assists, two rebounds and two steals to send the Crusaders of Mayor Lawrence Cruz to their second straight loss and fourth overall in seven starts.

The Sparkling Knights led by as much as 21 late in the first half, 46-25, but the Crusaders refused to just roll over and die and came within six, 77-71, with 2:45 left in the final quarter.

Mantawi's back-up center Jeffrey France extended the lead, 79-71, before Huelar nailed the insurance free throws.

The scores

Mantawi (88) - Larong 24, Huelar 13, Gloria 11, Moreño 10, Tundag 7, Capati 6, Carretas 6, France 5, Ignacio 4, Antiporda 2

Iligan (75) - Roque 17, Kong 14, Fajardo 12, Ayodelle 10, Sagad 8, De Guzman 5, Baguio 4, Cosingan 3, Faustino 2. Quarterscores: 21-15, 49-30, 72-57, 88-75.