Knights return to ABT Finals, survives Mille onslaught in OT

Team Knights returns to the APCRAA Basketball Tournament men’s division finals after defeating Team Mille in overtime, 86-78 on Game 2 of their best-of-three semifinals series on Saturday, September 10 at the APC Gymnasium.

This will be the third straight finals appearance for Team Knights, and will face again Team Bumblebees in the best-of-three championship round starting on September 17.

The game was too close to call during regulation as the game had 8 lead changes and 14 ties. Team Mille had a chance to close out the game and force a do-or-die Game 3 after erecting a four point lead with 44 seconds remaining. However, in the insuing sequence, Carlo Aboboto made a basket with 22 seconds left. After a Mille timeout, Jhonel de Luna intercepted a pass from Ryan Go, but Go recovered the ball, forcing JC Hermo to commit a foul on David Yokoi. Yokoi missed both free throws, Team Knights got the rebound and Hermo passed it to Aboboto for a fastbreak layup to tie the game at 74-all to force the game to overtime.

At the extension period, Aboboto carried on to the momentum for them to establish an eight point lead leading to the final buzzer.

Aboboto finished with 24 points with 23 rebounds and 3 assists. JC Hermo contributed 18 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists. His brother Jolo Hermo had a double double game of 15 points and 14 rebounds.

For Team Mille, Yokoi scored 32 points with 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Ryan Go had a double double performance of 13 points and 11 rebounds with 3 assists and 2 steals.

THE SCORES:

KNIGHTS (86): Aboboto 24, Hermo JC 18, Hermo JL 15, Tragico 12, De Luna 7, Go J 5, Juadines 3, Almo 2, Brioso 0

MILLE (78): Yokoi 32, Go R 13, Acdal 10, Yambao 4, Manikan 4, Davis 4, Javier 4, Adam 3, Lacsamana 3, Levita 1, Dela Cruz 0, Salonga 0

QUARTERSCORES: 20-15, 35-33, 50-54, 74-74, 86-78

REFEREES: J. Buce, J. Cruz, V. Cordova

FIBA LIVESTATS: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/APC/2116345