Tournament darkhorse Aloha Maid Choppers and team Spoilers improved their respective records after beating separate rivals, Sunday in the ongoing 2011 Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National gym.

After trailing 37-39 in the first half, the Choppers found their mark as they unleashed a 31-10 attack in the third canto to take over the lead at 68-49. From there the Choppers met little resistance as they sailed away with a 91-68 victory over the PNQ Rams.

The victory was their eight to sport an 8-5 win-loss record in the team standings. PJ Esguerra, who despite started slow for the Choppers, paced them with 19 points as teammates Mark Lofranco and Nelson Dupalco added 18 and 16 markers, respectively as Leo Castro topscored for the Rams who are still at the cellar with a 1-12 mark.

On the other hand, team Spoilers showed they meant business as they nailed their 10th victory at the expense of Mam’l Divers Rangers, 83-63. Leonilo Gonzales led the Spoilers attack with 28 markers as they now take a 10-3 tally in the team standings while Jay Naguit led the Rangers with 17 as they slipped to 8-6.

In other games, the Guardians won over Hanpa Cardinals, 77-75 while the Slashers shocked the Ilocandia Bulls, 103-93.

Games will resume on September 11 with Jaguar against Hanpa Cardinals at 11 a.m. followed by the Mam’l Divers Rangers-Aloha Maid Choppers tussle at 12:30 p.m. as Guardians meet the Slashers at 2 p.m. while the Ilocandia Bulls will face Surangel and Sons at 3:30 p.m.

This year’s FBL is sponsored by Aqua Drinking Water, ATT Bar and Restaurant, Blue Bay Petroleum Inc., Budget Mart 1, CTSI Logistics/Western Union, Engr. Bobby Pineda, Galaxy Dexigner, Galaxy Builders, Kabayan Restaurant, MJ Trading and General Merchandise, Palasia Hotel, Palau Royal Resort, Palau Shipping Co., PITI, Sea Passion Hotel, Shimbros Inc., The Print Zone, The Taj Restaurant, VMJ Construction and WCTC. The FBL is under the supervision of the Palau Basketball Federation. By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)