Agro ties series; nips JMC, 89-88
TITLE-hungry Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP) Sailors survived five deadlocks and a series of lead changes in the second half to avenge their first game loss to Jose Maria College (JMC) Kings, 89-88, on Tuesday evening and even the bestof-three Davao Champions League finals at 1-1.
The Kings took Game 1, 86-70, on Monday night at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center.
Agro coach Roderick Conda said in an interview that his players also helped him coach them during the game, saying, “Kung unsa ilang nakita sa dagan sa dula ila lang sad ginasulti nako bantug mas natabangan ang tibuok nga tim (They told me what they saw in the game so the team benefited from that).”
Both teams engaged in a see-saw battle at the start of the third period but the Agro Sailors rallied to a 13-3 run behind the heroics of Jeffrey Basmayor, Jon Albert Dominise, Welvin Tanguan, Jovar Taparan and Rodel Cabonilas for the break away, 73-65, with six minutes and 11 seconds left in the game.
The Sailors, however, succumbed to crucial turnovers allowing the Kings to force a tie, 82-all, as sweet-shooting John Philip Refuerzo buried his second triple in the fourth canto, 1:19 remaining.
But Mikko Estrellante countered with a basket and two charity shots for Agro to lead anew, 86-82, only to be cut again by Refuerzo’s trey, only 17 seconds left.
JMC’s Kenny Riel Guibay gave up a foul, sending Kenneth Bendijo to the free throw line. The latter shrugged off nerves and drilled in the two penalty baskets for Agro’s 88-85 advantage.
Estrellante, however, snatched the ball from a JMC player forcing the rival team to foul Basmayor, only five seconds to go. Basmayor split his charity baskets as Agro paced, 89-85, yet Refuerzo fired a buzzer-beating triple to trail by just one point.
Agro’s Estrellante finished with 17 points while Bendijo and Erickson Galacgac added 14 each. Jumabon Bulac, for his part, led scoring for Dodong Cagampang-coached JMC with 21 points as Refuerzo accounted for 17, James Soriano with 14 and Kenny Riel Guibay and Bob Clu Ombecan chipped in identical 12.
Coach Conda said in the vernacular, “We will try to limit our turnovers, more on passing than dribbling. On our defense, we need to box out to prevent JMC from scoring on second chance baskets.”
The sudden death h game was set as of yestererday presstime.
Meanwhile, Jeneil Franz anz Fuentes, was crowned slam am dunk champion in the conontest held during halftime e of Game 2. He scored perfect fect 30 from the judges led by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) regional director Regino “Boy” Cua. a.
The 10-team league, ue, which offers cash prizes zes and an automatic slot to the Philippine Collegiate ate Champions League (PCCL) CL) Mindanao finals for the champion team, is presentnted by Phoenix Petroleum um Philippines, Inc.