Team Alpha emerged victorious against Team Cavs after two overtime periods, 100-96, to tally their second victory in the APCRAA Basketball Tournament (ABT) 2017 season Men’s Division eliminations on Saturday, July 22 at the APC Gymnasium.
Alex Tagle of Team Alpha topped all scorers, with a career-high 33 points, plus 10 rebounds and 2 steals. Jhonel de Luna and Mark Jerome Rivera contributed 17 points each.
Team Cavs’ new recruit Kenneth Tan scored 23 points with 18 rebounds and 3 assists. Ronnie Corsino had his career game, finishing with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 3 assists. Jim Pangan and Rey Prayco added 13 points each in the Cavs’ scoring output.
The game is tight from the opening tip, with 11 lead changes and 6 ties in regulation. The Cavs held on to a 4-point lead going into the final two minutes of the fourth quarter. A basket made by Alpha’s Jeff Dosado decreased the lead to two points. After the two missed free throws by Cavs’ Tan, Alpha called a timeout to advance the ball at halfcourt.
De Luna drove to the basket and missed the shot but Mark Rivera of Alpha got the rebound and made the basket before the buzzer sounded, sending the game to overtime.
In the first extension, the Cavs put up a 5-point lead, but a five-point run by Alex Tagle – including three free throws after a foul from Ronnie Corsino – tied the game anew with 37 seconds remaining. After exchanging baskets, the game is still tied at 84-all with 10 seconds remaining. Corsino missed a potential game-winning layup, then Alpha secured the rebound as the time expired.
Both teams kept exchanging leads at the second overtime. Alpha was able to have a five-point lead going into the last minute of the game. A three-point shot from Rey Prayco gave a glimmer of hope to the Cavs as they decreased the lead again to two points with 32 seconds remaining.
A crucial turnover was made by Kenneth Tan, which led to De Luna scoring another basket for Alpha to pull away with the victory.
Alpha and Cavs will be back in action on July 29 as Alpha will face defending champions Team Bumblebees at 8pm while the Cavs and Team Avengers will square off at 5pm.
How they scored: (FIBA LiveStats)
Alpha (100): Tagle 33, Rivera 17, De Luna 17, Castañares 11, Dosado 6, Canseco 5, Ysulan 4, Montojo M 3, Morante 2, Dionisio 2, Lim 0, Montojo J 0, Lardizabal 0, Esguerra 0, Perez 0
Cavs (96): Tan 23, Corsino 21, Pangan 13, Prayco 13, Quilang 10, Hermo J 8, Tragico 8, Cayaban 0, Sigue 0, Sandigan 0, Cuntapay 0
Period scores: 11-14, 34-35, 52-48, 74-74, 84-84, 100-96