Team Choppers and Ilocandia Bulls pulled contrasting victories against separate rivals, Sunday in the 2012 season of the Filipino Basketball League at the Palau National gym.

The Choppers scored their second victory at the expense of the Jaguars, 59-50. It was a come from behind victory for the Choppers who trailed 24-28 at the end of the first quarter. The Choppers, sponsored by Shimbros International, Sen. Regis Akitaya, Niezel Borres, Mario Moloboco, Johnny Apostolero, Nelson Dupalco, Ronald Reyes, Lito Cruzat and Eric Basco, regained composure in the third canto as they spurted a 20-12 run to take the lead at 44-40.

From there, the Choppers never looked back as they secure the win to sport a 2-1 win-loss record. Bon-Bon Pramo paced the Choppers with 23 points while Ernie Bautista topscored for the Jaguars with 20 markers as they fell at 1-3 in the team standings.

On the other hand, it was a walk in the park for the Ilocandia Bulls as they drubbed the Hanpa Cardinals, 82-47.

The win placed the Bulls in contention of the top spot in the team standings as they are now 3-1. Ryan Cacho led the scoring chores for the Bulls with 18 while Raymund Tan topscored for the Cardinals also with 18 baskets as they are now 1-4.

In other games, Western Union blasted the Rams/Guardians, 102-55 while Ocean View/PCGM bested 9-Balls Friendsters, 81-78.

Games will resume on April 15 with Choppers versus the Ilocandia Bulls at 11 a.m. followed by the Western Union-FR Spoilers tussle at 12:30 p.m. as 9-Ball Friendster will face D’Originals in the Master’s League at 2 p.m. while Jaguars will meet the Rams/Guardians in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

This year’s FBL sponsors are ATT Karaoke Disco Bar, Aqua Pure Water, Blue Bay Petroleum, Budget Mart 1 and 2, CTSI Logistics, FR Construction, GF Automotive, Hanpa Industries, HBO Company, Kabayan Restaurant, Kramers, MJ Trading, Ngeremlengui Quarry, Ocean View/ABA, Palau Curtain, PDC, Pinoy Express Remittance, Pinoy Restaurant, PNQ, Roll’EM Productions/OTV, Sams Tours, Sea View KTV, Shimbros Inc., Socio-Micronesia, Surangel and Sons, The Taj, VMJ Construction, WCTC, Engr. Bobby Pineda, Jun dela Cruz, Koki Beech, Terry Li Hong, Engr. Ogi Pineda, Engr. Ben Asuncion and TFCP executive and board officers.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)