Richmond Oilers forced a do-or-die Game 3 for the right to face Krispy Team in the APCRAA Basketball Tournament Season 8 Finals after defeating Team Knights in Game 2, 78-75, on Saturday, August 24 at the APC Gymnasium.
Renzo Macaraeg led the charge for the Oilers after missing Game 1 with a double-double output of 17 points and 18 rebounds with 6 assiss and 3 steals. Justine Abequibel contributed 19 points with 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
For the Knights, team captain Jhonel de Luna carried much of the scoring load with 23 points and 5 rebounds. Richard Hapin added 17 points and 12 rebounds for the team’s cause.
The game was a see-saw battle, with both teams exchanging leads in the first half. By the third quarter, the Oilers got a firm grasp with the lead, but the Knights were able to reduce the lead by 4 points with less than a minute left in the game. With only 28 seconds left, De Luna was called for his second technical foul, ejecting him out of the game as he was already called for a technical foul in an earlier infraction involving Lavesh Chandnani. In the insuing play, Jerl Ferrer of the Oilers was called with a technical foul, resulting for a made free throw by Jaime Juadines, reducing the lead to three points. The Knights had a chance to send the game into overtime but a missed three point attempt by Kean Almo sealed the victory for the Oilers.
Game 3 of the semifinals series will be played on August 31.
THE SCORES:
KNIGHTS (75): De Luna 23, Hapin 17, Juadines 12, Montaril 8, Hermo JC 8, Go 5, Almo 2
RICHMOND OILERS (78): Abequibel 19, Macaraeg 17, Ferrer 14, Chandnani 9, Carreon 7, Masa 5, Antabo 4, Trinidad 2, Cerdeña 1, Sombilon 0, Gomez 0
QUARTERSCORES: 20-22, 42-41, 57-61, 75-78
REFEREES: D. Escaros, J. Beleganio, J. Lesigues
FIBA LIVESTATS: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/APC/2508050