Team Knights will advance to the APCRAA Basketball Tournament Season 8 Finals after defeating Richmond Oilers in Game 3 of their semifinals series, 83-80, on Saturday, August 31 at the APC Gymnasium.
This will be Knights’ fourth appearance in the championship round and will be the third time they will facing Krispy Team in the Finals.
Before the start of the game, the league recognized career milestones for JC Hermo, for being the 4th player in league history accumulate 100 steals and Mark Rivera for grabbing his 500th rebound on August 24 against the Oilers. Jhonel De Luna was also awarded with the Sportsmanship Award since he was not able to attend the awarding ceremonies.
It was a see-saw battle, with the lead changing hands 25 times. In the crucial stretch of the fourth quarter, Jaime Juadines and Nonoy Sonbise made back-to-back three point shots, for the Knights to regain the lead 79-76 with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game. Mark Rivera made a jumpshot at the top of the key, increasing the lead to five points. In the ensuing play, Lean Carreon made a three point shot, decreasing the lead to 2 points.
The Oilers have a chance to force the game into overtime when Juadines made a turnover upon inbounding the ball. Jerl Ferrer missed a jumpshot then a shotclock violation was called against the Oilers, with only 18 seconds remaining in the game. The Oilers were forced to foul Jhonel de Luna to send him in the free throw line. He split his charities, increasing the Knights lead to 3 points. Kyle Trinidad got fouled on the next play after attempting a three point shot with only 3 seconds remaining. Trinidad however only made one of three free throws.
Sonbise got fouled in the next play with only one second remaining in the game, but he only made the 2nd attempt, at the same time, De Luna was called with a foul on Jerl Ferrer, giving a slim chance to the Oilers to send the game to overtime. However, Ferrer missed both free throws, sealing the win for the Knights.
Sonbise finished the game with 25 points, 4 rebounds 2 assists and 2 steals. Juadines and De Luna contributed 13 points each.
For the Oilers, Renzo Macaraeg top the team in scoring with 21 points plus 23 rebounds and 3 assists. 5 other players scored 11 points each.
Game 1 of the Finals will be played on September 7.
THE SCORES:
RICHMOND OILERS (80): Macaraeg 21, Carreon 11, Ferrer 11, Trinidad 11, Chandnani 11, Abequibel, Masa 4, Antabo 0, Cerdeña 0, Conta 0
KNIGHTS (83): Sonbise 25, Juadines 13, De Luna 13, Montaril 12, Rivera 10, Hermo JC 6, Hermo JL 2, Cerrado 2, Cayaban 0, Almo 0, Go 0
QUARTERSCORES: 17-16, 37-39, 64-63, 80-83
REFEREES: S. Alap, H. Santos, S. Bautista
FIBA LIVESTATS: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/APC/2514110/