Team OGs dethroned defending champions Team Bumblebees in a cardiac game, 83-82, at the conclusion of their semifinals matchup in the APCRAA Basketball Tournament (ABT) 2017 season men’s division on Saturday, August 26 at the APC Gymnasium.
This will be OG’s second ABT finals appearance since the league was revived in 2015.
Curiously, only four players for OGs did the scoring chores. Jon Batuhan and JP Redelick contributed 30 points each, followed by Mhar Paraiso with 19 points and Frederick Aotay with 4 points.
For Team Bumblebees, Brix Estabillo led the team in scoring with 19 points, plus 9 rebounds and 3 assists. This was followed by Norman Ringor with 18 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists.
Team OGs came out strong in the first half, leading by as much as 12 points in the second quarter. Before halftime, Team Bumblebees made an 8-0 run to get a taste of the lead by halftime.
Team Bumblebees tried to sustain their momentum but by the fourth quarter, the game was tied, thanks to a scoring run by Batuhan and Paraiso. A three-point shot by JP Redelick in the four-minute mark of the fourth quarter gave the OGs the lead.
Both teams were exchanging baskets up to the two-minute warning. With Team OGs leading by one with 14 seconds remaining, Batuhan had a chance to increase their lead to three points but missed his two free throws.
Ringor secured the rebound for Team Bumblebees and threw the ball to Estabillo, but he missed his layup and the ball went out of bounds in favor of Bumblebees with less than 2 seconds remaining. In the insuing play, Arie Altre attempted a mid-range jumper to grab the victory but it missed, sealing the win for Team OGs.
Team OGs will face Team ASPAC in the championship game on September 2 at 7:00pm. The awarding ceremonies will follow afterwards.
HOW THEY SCORED: (FIBA LiveStats)
OGs (83): Batuhan 30, Redelick 30, Paraiso 19, Aotay 4, Go 0, Agito 0, Rivera 0, Ortiz 0, Artymiak 0, Pitallar 0
BUMBLEBEES (82): Estabillo 19, Ringor 18, De Luna M 13, Belardo 8, Altre 7, Macaspac 6, Gumboc 3, San Diego 2, De Guzman 0
QUARTERSCORES: 23-14, 38-42, 62-63, 83-82