Team 4x4 Wheelers displayed patience as they were able to beat Aqua Smooth, 68-58 Wednesday night to take Game One of their best of three semifinals series in the ongoing 2012 season of the IP&E Amateur Basketball League (ABL) at the Palau National gym.

It was a sweet come from behind victory for 4x4 Wheelers after trailing 41-49 going into the final quarter. 4x4 Wheelers orchestrated a 27-9 run in the fourth quarter that gave them the upper hand in the series with a 1-0 tally.

After gaining the lead at 60-58, 4x4 Wheelers thought it would be a tight finish but Aqua Smooth’s Chris Tangunan commit a crucial error in the 1:45 mark of the game as he dribbled the ball off his foot and lost the handle of it. Paving way for 4x4 Wheelers to make a comeback and score the win.

Gino Smau paced 4x4 Wheelers with 16 points as teammate Sunshine Soalablai added 13 while Traxx Remeliik topscored for Aqua Smooth with 17 on the losing end and was backed by the 15 point performance of Tangunan.

On the other hand, team FR Spoilers barged their way into the finals after beating Kabong, 79-77. Michael Bombita led the charged for the Spoilers with 26 as they sealed the series with a 2-0 count while Luke Wilter topbilled for Kabong with 20.

The Spoilers will wait for the winner of the 4x4 Wheelers-Aqua Smooth series for the championship series which will be a best of three affair while the loser will face Kabong for the consolation.

The tournament is a tobacco, alcohol and drug free program. All violators will be banned from participating. For more information call Topps at 488-4491.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)