Team Avengers, formerly known as Team Warriors, outlasted Team OGs in a double-overtime game, 94-93, at the APCRAA Basketball Tournament (ABT) 2017 season men’s division elimination round on Saturday, July 8 at the APC Gymnasium.
The two pioneer teams – who have been part of the alumni tournament since 2015 – played the first double-OT game in the history of the ABT.
Archie Gratil of Team Avengers led his team with 24 points, with 9 rebounds and 3 assists. Three players had a double-double performance: Rey Eje, with 14 points and 13 rebounds, Ron Perez with 12 points, 19 rebounds, and Edwin Gratil with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
For the OGs, JP Redelick had 27 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, while Jon Batuhan scored 25 points and grabbed 11 boards. Mhar Paraiso also had a double-double game with 17 points, 18 rebounds with 2 assists and 5 steals.
The Avengers built an early lead in regulation, reaching by as much as 14 points in the 3rd quarter. Team OGs started a scoring run in the fourth quarter, thanks to a late surge by JP Redelick, tying the game at 70-all with 2:44 remaining.
Ron Perez and Edwin Gratil scored four points after the two-minute warning. Mhar Paraiso and JP Redelick scored four points in the ensuing sequence, tying the game at 74-all with 6 seconds remaining. After the ball was inbounded, it went out of bounds in favor of OGs with 1 second remaining.
After an OGs timeout, Ryan Go drove to the basket and made a potential game-winner. The basket, however, was nullified after the referees and table officials noticed the game clock malfunctioned by getting stuck at 1.0 second. The game went into overtime despite several protests from the OGs camp.
The Avengers secured a five-point lead in the 1:37 mark of the extension period. Redelick then made a five-point scoring outburst to force another overtime period at 84-all.
In the second overtime, the war of attrition commenced, as fatigue and foul trouble became a factor in the game. The Avengers built a six-point advantage before the OGs decreased it to a single point with 37 seconds remaining. The OGs had a chance to win the game by having the last possession, but Batuhan was not able to make the basket. This sealed the victory for the Avengers.
On Sunday afternoon, the APCRAA tournament committee received a formal game protest from Team OGs, specifically on the last play in regulation involving Ryan Go’s nullified basket. The committee is currently reviewing the protest and will meet the two team captains.
The decision will be made public afterwards, before the start of the games on Saturday, July 15.
How they scored: (FIBA LiveStats)
Avengers (94): Gratil A 24, Eje 14, Evangelista 13, Gratil E 12, Perez 12, Amparo 9, Magsalos 6, Abdon 4, Amurao 0, Cruz 0, Abalon 0, Battung 0
OGs (93): Redelick 27, Batuhan 25, Paraiso 17, Go 11, Nones 6, Aotay 4, Artymiak 2, Diaz 1, Felix 0, Viray 0, Rivera 0, Ortiz 0, Agito 0
Period scores: 20-13, 41-33, 59-47, 74-74, 84-84, 94-93