QUEZON NIPS PAMPANGA, SWEEPS GENSAN LEG

Games Wednesday (September 30) – Trace College-Los Banos

4:00 PM Forward Taguig vs. MP Warriors of GenSan

6:00 PM Trace-Laguna Stallions vs. Misamis Oriental Meteors

QUEZON NIPS PAMPANGA, SWEEPS GENSAN LEG

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Quezon Red Oilers pocketed the Smart Liga Pilipinas General Santos City Leg with a come from behind victory over the Smart-Pampanga Buddies, 78-73, at the General Santos City Gymnasium late Saturday evening.

Center Angelus Raymundo hit a boarding triple to shatter a 73-73 tie and push the Red Oilers on top for good, 76-73. The Buddies then failed to score, forcing them to quickly foul Luis Palaganas who calmly sank both charities for the final tally.

Earlier, Buddy Al Magpayo tied the game for the last time with a triple, 73-73, and 30 ticks remaining. Overall, the intense contest saw eight deadlocks and 22 lead changes.

The Buddies of Coach Allan Gregorio, behind the good three-point shooting of Jonathan Aldave and balikbayan Allan Husted, took the first half, 36-30.

Palaganas led the champions with 17 points. The 6’6” Raymundo was later adjudged as the leg’s Most Valuable Player with averages of 13.3 points and 10.0 rebounds. This also marks the first time the franchise of Gov. Raffy Nantes swept a leg.

“We came here because of two reasons – family and passion,” said victorious coach Oliver Bunyi as he secured his first leg crown this conference and third overall since last year. “This is our gift to Gov. Nantes and the people of Quezon.”

Due to their good performance, both finalists shot up the Liga Tour standings with the Red Oilers now occupying Second Place with 23 points while the Buddies grabbed Third Place with 21 points. The undefeated M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos still rule the roost with 45 points. The top two teams will be given automatic spots in November’s five-team Super Leg that will determine the next National Champion.

In the battle for Third Place, the Zamboanga Uno Latinos pulled off an 87-71 shocker over the host MP Warriors of GenSan. The win marked the Latinos’ first after seven straight losses this conference supported by Smart, Accel, Molten, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).

Playing the entire tournament with only six men, the Latinos under Coach Ronald Rico leaned on the 35 points and six rebounds of guard Jayson Rebollos.

The Liga Tour makes its seventh stop this Wednesday at the Stallions’ Gym of Trace College in Los Banos, Laguna as the Trace-Laguna Stallions welcome the Warriors, Forward Taguig and the defending National Champion Misamis Oriental Meteors.