Sirlitz draws first blood in Thirsty hoop finals

Sirlitz/Slimmers World banked on a decisive fourth-quarter show to dispose off Danaotel, 69-63, and take a 1-0 upstart in the 5th Thirsty Hoop Jams best-of-three finals series at the Bright Academy Gym in Brgy. Banilad, this city.

Sirlitz/Slimmers World can wrap up the title if it stuns Danaotel anew in Game 2, which they were still slugging it out as of this writing last night. Dennis Acebron scattered 19 points followed by Marvin Padilla with 14, while Ellery Ariate and Jun Verano combined for 23 points for Sirlitz, which took a five-point lead at halftime, 31-26.

Danaotel countered with a sizzling 27-17 run in the third quarter to wrest the driver's seat, 53-48, but Sirlitz proved to be the hungrier squad as it staged a tide-turning 21-10 rally in the windup to steal the match.

Roland Pasaol had 20 points, while Giovanni Belicario and Christian Toledo banged in 17 and 16 markers, respectively, for Danaotel, which aims to hit back and forge a rubbermatch.

Earlier, Lito Cacapit sparkled with 24 points and Vicente Tatoy added 16 as Petron boiled Nature's Spring, 65-59, to claim the third place trophy.

The scores

First game (For third)

Petron (65) - Cacapit 24, Tatoy 16, Rodriguez 10, Patino 9, Ramos 2, Rodriguez 2, Jayme 2

Nature's Spring (59) - Penetrante 20, Cometa 17, Roman 8, Casnillo 6, Pardillo 4, Laag 2, Miole 2

Quarterscores:17-12, 31-27, 46-39, 65-59

Second game (Game 1, Finals)

Sirlitz (69) - Acebron 19, Padilla 14, Ariate 13, Verano 10, Geniston 6, Miranda 4, Salvilla 3

Danaotel (63) - Pasaol 20, Belicario 17, Toledo 16, Batucan 4, Batulan 2, Novo 2, Duterte 2

Quarterscores:15-13, 31-26, 48-53, 69-63