OGs defeat Bumblebees in cardiac OT game, earn twice-to-beat advantage in semis

Team OGs scored a big win in their final game at the APCRAA Basketball Tournament (ABT) 2017 season Men’s Division elimination round, as they defeated Team Bumblebees in overtime, 97-91, on Saturday, August 12, at the APC Gymnasium.

OGs finished with a 3-2 card, ending with the same win-loss record as the Bumblebees. Due to the win-over-the-other rule, OGs will finish in second place, giving them a twice-to-beat advantage in the semifinals.

Jon Batuhan of Team OGs had a stellar game, finishing with 33 points, 13 rebounds and 7 steals. JP Redelick also had a good game, scoring 29 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists.

Brix Estabillo of Team Bumblebees led his team in scoring with 30 points, plus 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Norman Ringor crashed the boards with 23 rebounds and also scored 27 points.

The game is tightly contested up to the fourth quarter, with 16 lead changes and 10 ties. At 81-all with 33 seconds remaining, Team OGs had the opportunity to get the lead. JP Redelick missed a layup and Ringor secured the rebound. At the fastbreak opportunity, he passed to Joemark Belardo at the other end of the court and scored a layup with 8 seconds left.

Team OGs called a timeout to advance the ball to half-court. JP Redelick made up his missed shot on the earlier play and drove again to the basket, making a fallaway jumper to tie the game again at 83-all. Team Bumblebees had the opportunity to win the game in the last 1.6 seconds of the game but the potential game winner was missed by Ringor, sending the game to overtime.

Momentum kept on shifting at the extension period. OGs led by 3 points, with 24 seconds remaining. A steal by Julian Nones from a bad pass by Rolem Macaspac gave Team OGs a comfortable 5-point lead, after a fastbreak layup by Jon Batuhan with 9 seconds remaining. This basket sealed the OGs victory in one of the most tightly contested games in ABT history.

Both teams will meet in the semifinals on August 19 at 5:00pm, with Team OGs having a twice-to-beat advantage against Team Bumblebees.

How they scored: (FIBA LiveStats)
OGs (97): Batuhan 33, Redelick 29, Paraiso 11, Go 7, Diaz 6, Nones 4, Artymiak 4, Aotay 3, Felix 0, Rivera 0, Ortiz 0, Pitallar 0

BUMBLEBEES (91): Estabillo 30, Ringor 27, Trinidad 10, Belardo 8, De Luna 8, Prion 4, Altre 2, San Diego 2, Humboc 0, Macaspac0, Grepo 0,

Period scores: 22-25, 39-31, 59-60, 83-83, 97-91