Unbeaten Hobe bucks Kawasaki 5

Games on today (Marikina Sports Center)

7 p.m. – Sta. Lucia Land Inc. vs Philippine National Police

8:30 p.m. – Team-Mercenary vs Sealions

Games tomorrow (Marikina Sports Center)

7 p.m. – Kawasaki-Marikina vs Uratex Foam

8:30 p.m. – Siargao Legends vs FEU-NRMF

MANILA, Philippines - Two-time defending champion Hobe-JVS rallied from 15 points down and nipped Kawasaki-Marikina, 80-79, to remain unbeaten in the fourth DELeague Invitational basketball tournament at the Marikina Sports Center, Marikina City Thursday night.

Mike Warnest and Henry Fernandez took charge in the fourth as Hobe-JVS, who fell behind at 40-55 with erratic plays at the end of the third, wrested a 67-66 lead on a dunk by Warnest that drew cheers from the jampacked crowd.

Hobe-JVS sustained its charge and posted leads of 75-70 and 80-76 then thwarted Kawasaki-Marikina’s own fightback to clinch the win.

Kawasaki-Marikina had a chance to send the game to overtime but Kojak Melegrito flubbed one of his two charities.

Warnest finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds while Fernandez added 15 markers for Hobe-JVS, which paces Group A with a 4-0 record.

Melegrito scored 21 points for Kawasaki-Marikina, which dropped to 1-3 in the league supported by Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman.

In the other game, unbeaten FEU-NRMF thrashed winless MBL Selection, 102-66, to grab the lead in Group B of the tournament backed by PCA Marivalley, St. Anthony Hospital, PS Bank Blue Wave Marquinton Branch, Luyong Restaurant Concepcion, Mckie’s Equipment Sales and Rental and Tutor 911.