MARIKINA CITY – Foton Toplander gave Biyaheng SCTEX a rude welcome into the 2016 Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League (PCBL) Chairman’s Cup via a 102-99 double overtime spanking last Wednesday (March 16) at the Marikina Sports Center. Guard Mikee Reyes hit a long triple with 0.41 seconds left to seal the deal for the Pampanga-based squad, their second straight win after losing their opening game.
“These are the games we dream about, my first time hit a game-winner because we never had much close games in the UAAP,” said Reyes who dribbled for the University of the Philippines. “There was no pressure because the score was tied and if I missed, we can still win it in the next overtime.”
Jansen Rios drove strong to the hoop to tie the game for the last time, 99-99, and 24 ticks to play. “I have great confidence in all my players so that anyone could take the final shot,” said Coach Jonathan Reyes.
For a team making their tournament debut, the Road Warriors gave a good account of themselves despite playing with a 10-man roster. Veteran big man Ervin Sotto forced the first overtime via a triple with 15 seconds to go, 82-82.
In the first overtime, Borgie Hermida fed a streaking Earnest Reyes for the go-ahead layup at the 12-second mark, 90-88. However, a defensive lapse allowed Cedric Ablaza to score underneath and set the stage for the second extra period, 90-90.
Seven of the nine players fielded by Coach Reyes submitted double figures, with Reyes leading the way with 25 points on top of five rebounds and three assists. Ablaza was two assists short of triple double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
The Road Warriors of Coach Adonis Tierra likewise had seven men in twin digits. Mark Pangilinan paced them with 20 points while Hermida had awesome numbers of 18 points, eight rebounds, 15 assists and six steals.
In the second game, Jumbo Plastic woke up from a lethargic first half to clip Supremo Lex Builders-OLFU, 79-70. The Linoleum Giants clawed back from a 14-point second period deficit, 17-31, behind the superb second half performances of guards Jeff Alvin Viernes and Stephen Siruma and center Jaymo Eguilos to level their win-loss card at 2-2.
Jumbo Plastic’s rally actually began after lagging behind by 14 as they closed in by the halftime break, 33-36 on a 14-2 run anchored on Viernes and Eguilos. Viernes hit the go-ahead triple, 45-44, and the Giants never looked back as Siruma and Allwell Oraeme joined the scoring parade to give them safe cushion entering the final period, 61-49.
The best that the Builders could do was close in by six markers, 58-64, on a Joseph Marquez triple followed by a Mark Brana basket early in the final canto. Viernes and Siruma were not yet finished as their timely hits prevented the Builders from inching any closer.
“We lost our timing in the first half and we searched for consistency,” explained Coach Stevenson Tiu. “We have to play for 40 minutes, not 20 minutes.”
Viernes led all scorers with 24 points on top of five rebounds. Eguilos was next with 16 points and seven rebounds while Siruma chipped in 10 points.
Jan Jamon was the top man for the Builders with 19 markers. Marquez followed with 15 points and five rebounds.
The games stay at Marikina this Friday with undefeated league leader Mighty Sports tackling Santa Lucia Realty at 5:00 PM. In the 7:00 PM nightcap, winless sides Euro-Med Laboratories and Biyaheng SCTEX go for their breakthrough first victory.
How They Scored:
First Game
FOTON (102) – Reyes 25, Ablaza 20, Nacpil 14, Quattara 12, Gomez 11, Enriquez 10, Rivera 10, Moraga 0, Penaflor 0.
BIYAHENG SCTEX (99) – Pangilinan 20, Hermida 18, Sotto 14, Aguara 13, Rios 11, Reyes 11, del Rosario 10, Vitug 2, Calomot 0, Gutierrez 0.
Period Scores: 20-22, 41-37, 63-62, 82-82 (reg.), 90-90 (OT), 102-99 (2OT).
Second Game
JUMBO PLASTIC (79) – Viernes 24, Eguilos 16, Siruma 10, Padilla 8, Oraeme 6, Taganas 4, Lopez 3, Martinez 2, Santos 2, Arellano 2, Ibay 2, Mandani 0.
SUPREMO LEX-OLFU (70) – Jamon 19, Marquez 15, Montuano 10, Laminou 9, Acidre 6, Brana 3, Leynes 3, Cabrera 2, Villamin 2, Juanico 1, Importante 0.
Period Scores: 13-16, 33-36, 61-49, 79-70.
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