MANILA, Philippines -- Mighty Sports withstood Sealions' last-ditch rally for a 107-100 win in a heated encounter last Sunday in the 2013 Danny Espiritu Cup basketball tournament at Reyes Gym in Mandaluyong.

Mighty Sports, which has picked up its game lately, yielded 26 points to Sealions in a span of six minutes in the payoff period and saw its 17-point lead slashed down to four, 100-96, with 42 ticks left. 

But Mighty Sports still improved to 2-2, even after losing momentum with a under seven minutes to play when a skirmish broke out that led to the ejection of Marlou Aquino and Jam Alfad.

Kenneth Duremdes, Edrick Ferrer and Gerard Francisco then came through down the stretch as the defending champions drew their last 10 markers to keep Sealions at bay from the stripe.

Tournament commissioner Mike Buendia said necessary sanctions will be meted out to the erring players.

Niño Marquez led Mighty Sports with 22 points including five triples while Ferrer doled out 20 points. Duremdes flirted with a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds. 

Meanwhile, undermanned Naughty Needlez finally barged into the win column of the tournament named after sports agent Danny Espiritu as it nipped Expert Global Solutions, 69-60.

Team effort sustained Naughty Needlez' lead in the second half with Vaughn Canta chipping in a team-best 14 points while James Martinez, Raymond Aguilar and Elvis Tolentino each adding 12.

Sealions reeled to its second straight setback for a 3-2 slate while EGS dropped its fourth assignment thus far.

The scores:

First Game

Mighty 107 -- Marquez 22, Ferrer 20, Celiz 15, Duremdes 12, Sabelina 11, Francisco 7, Colina 7, Acibar 5, Gamboa 3, Dimaunahan 3, Aquino 2, Evangelista 0, Lozada 0.

Sealions 100 -- Zagala 20, Billones 19, Asoro 16, Malabanan 16, Raymundo 10, Junio 5, Garrido 4, Martinez 4, Mabigat 3, Solis 2, Alao 1, Alfad 0, Ricafuente 0.

Quarters: 24-17, 48-37, 78-63, 107-100.

Second Game

Naughty Needlez 69-- Canta 14, Tolentino 12, Aguilar 12, Martinez 12, Taupa 9, Garcia 5, Zapata 3, Espinosa 2.

EGS 60 -- Catamora 16, Arias 13, Ranises 9, Caspe 8, Roda 6, Valena 2, Siqua 2, Kalawa 2, Feliciano 2, Melano 0, McCoy 0.

Quarters: 17-10, 32-25, 54-42, 69-60.