Blustar leans on Mesina heroics

Blustar Detergent leaned on Jenkins Mesina’s late-game heroics as it repeated over ICTSI, 71-63, yesterday to gain a share of third place with Unity Cup titlist Fash Liquid Power in the PBL Platinum Cup at the University of Santo Tomas Gym.

Mesina, who played briefly for the PBA’s Purefoods TJ Hotdog, unleashed a six-point splurge in the final 29 seconds to power the Detergents past the Archers and nail their fourth victory in seven outings.

Welcoat Paints and Montana Jewels pace the field with 6-1 and 4-2 (win-loss) records, respectively.

"We didn’t panic, that’s the key," said Blustar coach Leo Isaac.

Eldrick Ferrer, playing only his second game for the Detergent Kings, scored six of his 13 points in the fourth quarter while snaring down six rebounds and four assists in a game that also produced a lot of heroes for Blustar.

Sunkist-UST beat Viva Mineral Water, 76-65, for its third straight win at the UST gym and fourth overall against four losses. Viva fell to 1-6.

They included Allan Gamboa, Randy Lopez and ex-pro Marc Victoria.

Gamboa stood at the forefront of the Detergent Kings’ decisive run in the final period where they built a 13-point cushion while Lopez carried the cudgels for the team in the first three quarters to finish with 13 markers, eight caroms, two blocks, an assist and a steal.

Victoria, Mesina’s former teammate in Purefoods, scored only three points but dominated the boards with 10 caroms as Blustar outmuscled a taller and younger ICTSI in the shaded area.

Joseph Yeo wowed the crowd anew with 15 markers but the La Salle guard lost his touch in the last canto as the Archers fell to their sixth loss against two wins.

The scores:

Blustar 71- Mesina 14, Ferrer 13, Lopez 13, Gamboa 8, dela Cuesta 7, Junio 6, Pascual 5, Victoria 3, Almeda 2, Prior 0, Canaleta 0, Gatumbato 0, Mendez 0, David 0

ICTSI 63- Yeo 15, Ramos 13, Cabatu 10, Aldeguer 8, Jose 7, Aquino 4, Uy 3, Gavino 2, Tang 0, Thoss 0, Magsumbol 0

Quarterscores: 16-16; 36-26; 51-45; 71-62