Last year’s runner-up Peched Raw and FR Spoilers scored separate victories after besting foes Wednesday night in the ongoing 2013 season of the Shell IP&E National Basketball League (NBL) played at the Palau National gym.

Peched Raw nailed its fourth win at the expense of Idid Airwaves, 88-63. After taking a 24-16 lead in the first quarter, Peched Raw showed the stinging defense and offensive prowess as they outscored Idid Airwaves with a 23-8 run to take a 47-24 advantage.

From there Peched Raw never looked back as they took the win. Traxx Mark led the scoring chores for Peched Raw with 16 points while King Ngiraboi and Dennis Castro chipped in identical 14 markers respectively as they now take a 4-0 win-loss record while Josei Meltel topscored for Idid Airwaves also with 15 baskets on the losing end.

On the other hand, FR Spoilers nailed its fifth win at the expense of team Breakers, 95-57. Michael Bombita and Coco Gonzales finished 25 points, respectively to lead the Spoilers while Basil Gibbons finished with 13 for team Breakers on the losing side.

In other games, Ksau Imaging Solutions won over WCC Hammers, 96-85; FR Spoilers bested Ngermid Rivals, 108-71; PCC Mesekiu routed 4x4 Wheelers, 72-71; and WCC Hammers defeated Idid Airwaves, 64-58.

Games resume tonight with Nationals versus Idid Airwaves at 6 p.m. while Medalaii Stingers will face PCC Mesekiu at 7:30 p.m. as Monday will feature Idid Airwaves against Ngermid Rivals at 7:30 p.m. while PCC Mesekiu will meet Breakers in the main game at 9 p.m.

Teams seeing action this season include defending champion FR Spoilers (sponsored by FR Construction), Peched (sponsored by Surangel’s Raw Surf Shop), 4x4 Wheelers (sponsored by Palau Trading Company), Ksau Imaging Solutions (sponsored by Surangel and Sons Company), Nationals 19 and Under (sponsored by IP&E Palau), WCC Hammers (sponsored by Williams Construction Company, Manny Adelbai and Bunker Ruluuked), Medalaii-Stingers (sponsored by Neco Marine and Koror State Youth Council), Idid Airwaves (sponsored by Koror State Youth Council), Ngermid Rivals (sponsored by Koror State Youth Council), PCC Mesekiu (sponsored by Palau Community College) and Breakers (sponsored by Palau Trading Company and Senator Mark Rudimch).

The tournament, which is supervised by the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF), is a tobacco, alcohol and drug free program. Any violators will be banned from participating. For more information call Topps at 488-4491.  By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)