Team Cavs bags its first win in the APCRAA Basketball Tournament (ABT) 2017 season Men’s Division eliminations by defeating Team Avengers in double overtime, 104-102, on Saturday, July 29, at the APC Gymnasium.
Both teams had been involved in the first two double-overtime games this season where Team Avengers defeated Team OGs on July 8 and Team Cavs won against Team Alpha on July 22.
Christian Tragico of Team Cavs had his highest scoring output this season with 30 points, with 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Leading Rookie of the Year candidate JC Hermo scored 17 points with 4 rebounds and 7 assists. Jim Pangan had a breakout game with 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
On the Avengers side, the Gratil brothers both scored 21 points each. Edwin Gratil added 12 rebounds in his output while his brother Archie had 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.
The Avengers were in control in the first three quaters of the game, with the Cavs taking the lead in only two occasions. But a scoring surge by Hermo and Pangan gave the Cavs the lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Cavs were comfortably ahead by seven points, with four minutes remaining, but a scoring run headed by the Gratil brothers allowed the Avengers to retake the lead. The score became 82-all with 45 seconds remaining, after Tragico made a three-point shot and Rey Eje responded with a two-point basket in the insuing play. The Cavs’ Ronnie Corsino missed a shot in an attempt to recapture the lead at the end of regulation.
The first overtime was very close, with no team leading by more than 3 points. The lead eventually went to the Avengers with less than two minutes remaining. But thanks to a split charity free throw made by Cavs’ Tragico and a two-point shot care of Mervin Quilang, the game went into the second overtime period.
The Cavs were able to build a 7-point lead but was shaved by the Avengers to three points with 1:27 remaining. The critical basket by Quilang at the 58-second mark sealed the win for the Cavs.
Both teams will be back in action on August 12: the Cavs will be up against Team ASPAC while the Avengers will play their final elimination round game against Team Alpha.
How they scored: (FIBA LiveStats)
Cavs (104): Tragico 30, Pangan 19, Hermo JC 17, Corsino 12, Quilang 12, Prayco 4, Sandigan 4, Cayaban 2, Mendoza 2, Cuntapay 0
Avengers (102): Gratil E 26, Gratil A, 23, Eje 15, Perez 15, Amparo 10, Magsalos 7, Battung 2, Abdon 2, Nartia 2, Cruz 0
Period scores: 22-20, 40-43, 62-59, 84-84, 91-91, 104-102