TAGUIG CITY – The visiting sixth seed Trace-Laguna Stallions forced a winner-take-all game for the last seat in this weekend’s Super Leg by upsetting fifth seed Forward Taguig, 83-79, in their Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference III Wild Card game Tuesday evening at the C. P. Tinga Memorial Hall.
With their conference on the line, the Stallions of Atty. Erwin Genuino and Coach Nomar banked on the combined 15 fourth period points of guard Alex Angeles and the returning Leo Losentes plus crucial baskets by Alfie Grijaldo to pull off the victory and remain in the hunt for the last remaining seat in next week's Liga SuperLeg National Finals.
With Taguig constantly threatening, Grijaldo, Angeles and Losentes banged in a triple each that erected an 81-74 Stallions advantage with 1:13 to play. Angeles and Losentes then split their separate trips to the free throw each to ensure the win at the 41-second mark. Jeff Sanders settled the final tally with the game’s final five points.
Angeles, RB Mangahas and Ron Capati gave Laguna their biggest lead of the contest, 43-33, early in the third period. Taguig of Mayor Freddie R. Tinga and Coach Bing Victoria slowly closed in, with Michael Gonzales giving them the lead for the first time via a three-point play with 8:16 remaining in the final canto, 58-56.
After a deadlock and four lead changes, Grijaldo followed a Jan Villaver triple with a basket that gave the Stallions the lead for good, 68-67, and 3:59 to play. A good first period worked wonders for the Stallions as Capati and Rob Sanz quickly found their scoring touch for a 19-14 advantage.
“Cebu City, we’re getting there,” said an exhausted Coach Isla. “After the Apayao Leg, we held team meetings and the team vowed to work very hard at practice as we prepared for Taguig.” Taguig’s twice-to-beat advantage is now history and both coaches have less than 24 hours to make adjustments for the rubber match to be held still at Tinga Hall.
Angeles had a good all-around game with 14 points, six rebounds and five assists in 34 minutes of play. Sanz followed with 12 points. Sanders paced Taguig with 22 points while Nino Marquez chipped in 14.
The five-team Super Leg is scheduled for November 22 to 29 at the New Cebu Coliseum and will determine the next Liga Pilipinas National Champion. Already earning their tickets are the undefeated M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos, Smart-Pampanga Buddies, Quezon Red Oilers and the defending National Champion Misamis Oriental Meteors.
The Liga Pilipinas Wild Card games and the whole Super Leg will be aired on Solar Sports starting next week. Liga Pilipinas Classics are also seen daily on Viva Prime Channel. For more information, visit www.ligapilipinas.net. Liga Pilipinas Conference III is made possible by Smart, Molten, Accel, Calcium-Cee, Gatorade, Air 21 and Burlington and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
How They Scored:
LAGUNA (83) – Angeles 14, Sanz 12, Losentes 9, Estrada 8, Capati 8, Villaver 8, Mangahas 7, Grijaldo 7, Pradas 6, Musni 2, Legaspi 2, Anquilo 0.
TAGUIG (79) – Sanders 22, Marquez 14, Gatumbato 11, Gonzales 8, Sta, Cruz 6, Moody 5, Araman 4, Baluyot 4, de Castro 3, Reguera 2, de Guia 0, Kiram 0.
Period Scores: 19-14, 31-29, 53-53, 83-79.
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