Sealions hold off Mercenary 5 in OT

MANILA, Philippines - Sealions wore down Team Mercenary, 109-103, in overtime to clinch the first semifinal berth in the fourth DELeague Invitational basketball tournament at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City last Sunday.

FEU-NRMF, meanwhile, stunned Siargao Legends, 75-70, to force a sudden in their own side of the duel in the tournament backed by Marikina Mayor Del de Guzman.

Egay Billones, the league’s leading scorer, lived up to the hype and fired 31 points and fell one assist short of a triple double with 13 rebounds while Ron Zagala backed him up with 27, eight rebounds and four assists for the Sealions, who gained a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarters.

Ryan Wetherel banged in 17 points and pulled down six rebounds while Vaughn Canta, Don Dulay and Shawn Weinstein each scored 13 points for the ousted Mercenaries of coach Nic Belasco.

In the other quarters match, Reymond Alonzo scored 18 points and snared four rebounds for the Tams, who also drew 16 points and five rebounds from Glen Khobuntin.

“We really prepared for this. We played good defense and the team was familiar with each other. It was a well-deserved win,” said FEU-NRMF coach Gelo Roa.

CJ Perez and Leo Avenido turned in 13 markers each while Charles Mammie came through with a double-double of 11 points and 19 rebounds for the Siargao Legends, who will have to go through the sudden death to advance in the league sponsored by PCA Marivalley, St. Anthony Hospital, PS Bank Blue Wave Marquinton Branch, Luyong Restaurant Concepcion, Mckie’s Equipment Sales and Rental, Cars Unlimited- Fairview Auto Sale and Tutor 101.