Defending champion Western Union and team Spoilers showed their winning forms as they defeated separate foes, Sunday in the ongoing 2011 Filipino Basketball League (FBL), Sunday at the Palau National gym.

Trailing 20-25 in the first quarter, Western Union overcame all odds as they outscored the Slashers with a 24-15 to take a 44-40 lead and went all the way to claim the win to finish the game with a score of 89-84.

Sniper Erwin Senadre led the scoring chores with 29 points while teammate Emerson Patenia added 22 as they now take a 12-2 win-loss card. Slasher’s playmaker Eric Basco tallied 24 markers as they slipped to 10-6.

On the other hand, the Spoilers are knocking at the top spot in the team standings after beating a hard fighting Aloha Maid Choppers, 108-76.

Michael Bombita topscored for the Spoilers with 27 as they now sport an 11-3 while PJ Esguerra led the Choppers with 24 baskets as they take an 8-7 record in the team standings.

In other games, Guardians bested the Ilocandia Bulls, 92-87 while Surangel and Sons outscored PNQ Rams, 79-74.

Games resume on September 25 with Jaguar versus PNQ Rams at 11 a.m. followed by the Mam’l Divers Rangers-Surangel and Sons tussle at 12:30 p.m. as the Spoilers meets the Slashers at 2 p.m. while the Ilocandia Bulls squares off against Western Union in the main game 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)