STANDINGS (W-L)
Smart-Pampanga Buddies 3-0
EKB-Apayao Rapids 2-1
Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue 1-2
Trace-Laguna Stallions 0-3
LUNA, APAYAO – Host EKB-Apayao Rapids barged into the championship game of the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Apayao Leg by eliminating Cebu Landmaster-Mandaue, 76-65, in front of a packed Bienvenido Verzola Jr. Memorial Sports Center Friday night.
With team owner Gov. Elias K. Bulut in attendance, center Lawrence Bonus popped in seven points in a critical fourth period stretch that gave the Rapids a 67-61 lead and 2:55 to play. Mandaue countered with five free throws from Francis Mercado, Rino Berame and JR Aquino to threaten for the last time entering the final two minutes, 65-67.
From there, the Rapids’ defense held the Landmaster quintet scoreless as Leimar Navarro converted three free throws and Randy Lopez scored on a tip-in to erect a commanding 72-65 advantage with 49 ticks to play. Ismael Junio added another free throw and a triple at the buzzer for the final tally.
Bonus led the Rapids with 24 points followed by Junio with 22. Mercado topped Landmaster with 13 points while Ronald Bucao chipped in 12.
In the first game, the undefeated Smart-Pampanga Buddies of Coach Allan Gregorio formalized their entry in the championship game via a 101-98 double overtime classic against the winless Trace-Laguna Stallions of Atty. Erwin Genuino and Coach Nomar Isla.
More importantly, the Buddies gained a two-point bonus for the sweep and blew past the Stallions in the overall tour points standings of the conference supported by Smart, Molten, Accel, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). The Buddies also stand a good chance to capture the second automatic Super Leg berth should they bag the leg championship
Al Magpayo and Allan Husted combined for all of the Buddies’ 11 scores in the second overtime to complete their come-from-behind triumph. Stallion Alfie Grijaldo sank a triple at the1:21 mark to close in for the last time, 96-97. Husted, a balikbayan from California, answered with a basket and two free throws before Robert Sanz settled the final tally with a basket and four seconds remaining. The Stallions though had one final chance as the Buddies committed a backing violation that left three ticks on the clock. Sadly for the Stallions, Alex Angeles missed a triple at the buzzer.
Jonathan Aldave forced the second overtime thank to an offensive tip-in with 0.4 of second left, 89-89. Regulation play ended at 80-80 on a Grijaldo field goal with 25 ticks to go.
The Stallions led by as big as 23 points in the first half, 44-21, behind the four triples of RB Mangahas. The Buddies slowly rallied, taking the lead for the first time, 73-72, on a Don Villamin triple with 3:56 left in the fourth period.
Mapgayo led the Buddies with 18 points while Aldave followed with 17. Grijaldo paced the Stallions with 24 followed by Mangahas with 21.
Selected games from the Apayao Leg will be shown next week on Solar Sports from Wednesday to Saturday. Liga Pilipinas Classics also air daily on Viva Prime Channel. For more information, visit www.ligapilipinas.net.
How They Scored:
First Game
PAMPANGA (101) – Magpayo 18, Aldave 17, Thiele 13, Villamin 9, Asoro 8, Husted 7, Saguindel 7, An. Espiritu 6, Sta. Maria 5, Tan 5, Gelig 3, Al. Espiritu 3, Taylor 0.
LAGUNA (98) – Grijaldo 24, Mangahas 21, Estrada 13, Sanz 10, Musni 10, Angeles 7, Villaver 5, Pradas 5, Legaspi 3, Tolentino 0.
Period Scores: 12-30, 31-48, 52-64, 80-80 (reg.), 89-89 (OT), 101-98 (2OT).
Second Game
APAYAO (76) – Bonus 24, Junio 22, Yambao 10, Lopez 7, Navarro 7, Vitug 4, Lustestica 2, Ebuen 1, Cabico 0, Villareal 0.
MANDAUE (65) – Mercado 13, Bucao 12, Cainglet 11, Aquino 8, Gabas 7, Bautista 5, Berame 5, Cenita 4, Latonio 0.
Period Scores: 27-12, 38-35, 54-54, 76-65.
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