THE National Bureau and Investigation Region 10 (NBI-10) keeps its winning way, this time eking out a come-from-behind 75-64 victory over the undermanned CVL Maguindanao in the 2018 Travelers Invitational Basketball Tournament, over the weekend, at Gamma Farm Gym in Barangay Tablon here.
Estologa Celer came up with 19 points to lead NBI-10, while Galmer Taban and Mario Bale gave 12 and 11 markers, respectively.
Gerry Tamayo and Rolan Milan also combined for 15 points to keep the NBI’s immaculate slate.
NBI had a sloppy start as the CVL Maguindanaons, with only six players in uniform, dictated the first two quarters.
CVL closed the first quarter at 17-12 and a 34-28 lead in the second quarter before slowing down.
The NBI cagers managed to put their acts together to force a 48-all deadlock at the end of the third quarter.
From there, the bureau unloaded a 9-3 run for a 6-point lead early in the final fourth period.
Maguindanao fought back to level the score at 63-all with still 4:25 minutes remaining in the ballgame.
The rest was easy for NBI as it capitalized CVL Maguindanao’s fatigue to unleash another 11-1 bubble en route to a trouble-free finish.
Reagan “Sakuragi” Abbu blamed himself for not suiting up for CVL Maguindanao along with Ian Ang and Mark Dunca.
Dexter Paje scored high for Maguindanao with 25 points including four treys, while RJ Yacapin added 12.
NBI-10 is now in solo leadership with a clean 3-0 card, followed by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) Defenders at 2-0.
The Ruffians, on the other hand, won their second straight via forfeiture against CVL/COS in the curtain raiser to improve at 2-1.
How they scored:
NBI-10 75 -- Celer 19, Taban 12, Bale 11, Tamayo 9, Milan 6, Dodins 5, Nerquit 5, Barbaso 2, Magsalay 2, Paelden 2, Cortez 2.
CVL Maguindanao 64 -- Paje 25, Yacapin 11, Oatacan 10, Linaac 7, Gadia 6, Gabutan 2.