Smart, Capital1 forge duel
The Smart Sports Scribes and the Capital 1 Solar Boys forged a championship duel after pulling off similar thrilling wins in the semis of the 2024 Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila on Tuesday, April 16.
Smart took the smile out of the Say Chiz Smileys in overtime, 54-53, while Capital 1 weakened the Strong Group Athletics (SGA) Press Row Boys, 71-70, in another nail-biter of a game, as the double-header easily proved to be the best in league history.
The knockout championship match between Capital 1 and Smart as well as the battle for third between Say Chiz and SGA are set next Monday, April 22.
The Press Row Boys erased a 12-point halftime deficit, 29-41, as they rattled the top-seeded Solar Boys in the next two frames to grab a 68-63 advantage in the last 2:58.
But just when Capital 1, backed by Mandy and Milka Romero, Bulakan Mayor Vergel Meneses, Uratex, and Rebel Sports, seemed to have fallen apart, Mark Montejo of Manila Bulletin, Bryan Ulanday of the Philippine Star, and
Aldo Aviñante delivered an inside incursion, a booming trey, and two clutch free throws, respectively, to make it 70-68 for the Solar Boys with 35.5 ticks left.
Karlo Sacamos scored on a floater to tie the count but Christian Jacinto drew a foul on the other end for the Solar Boys. He, however, couldn’t anymore continue due to cramps putting Tiebreaker Times’ Jonash Dannug on the foul line as a replacement with 3.2 ticks left. Dannug coolly sank the first free throw, and while he missed the second, Aviñante secured the crucial offensive rebound as time expired.
Ulanday fired 21 points laced with eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals, Montejo cashed in 16 points – including eight in the final frame that kept Capital1 afloat. In the first game, Reuben Terrado of Spin. ph scored 10 points including a jumper that gave the twice-tobeat armed Sports Scribes a one-point lead, 54-53, with under five seconds left in the extra period of the first match.