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Burger King Overcomes Bacchus in OT
(November 14, 2008)
Games tomorrow
(Emilio Aguinaldo College gym)
2 pm – Hapee vs Burger King
4 pm – Toyota Otis vs Magnolia
BURGER King lost grip of a 14-point halftime
deficit, but steadied itself in overtime to hack out
a thrilling 83-79 win over Bacchus Energy Drink last
night in the 2009 PBL PG Flex Linoleum Cup at the Arellano
gym.
The Whoppers leaned on a short but telling
5-0 run late in the extra period to clinch the game
they led by as many as 43-29 after two quarters.
Ogie Menor sparked that offensive burst
with a three-pointer before Marcy Arellano stole a Bacchus
inbound pass for an easy lay up that broke the game’s
final deadlock and gave the Whoppers the lead for good,
81-76.
“In the end it was the three point
shot and penetration that saved us. Special mention
to Ogie who was struggling but took that three-point
shot That just proved how big his heart is,” said
Burger King coach Allan Gregorio.
The victory was the first for Burger King,
joining Magnolia Pure Water in the win column after
the Wizards earlier pulled off a similar hard-earned
triumph in overtime against Pharex, 88-80, behind a
gem of a rookie guard in Yuri Escueta.
The Bacchus Warriors fell to an even 1-1
card and failed in their bid for a share of the top
spot with defending champion Harbour Centre.
Paul Lee sent the game into overtime with
a huge three-point play, tying the score at 68-all.
Escueta, a 5-foot-10 playmaker out of
reigning UAAP men’s basketball champion Ateneo,
finished with 10 points, five rebounds and five steals
in an all-around performance he capped by sparking a
big Wizards’ comeback in the second half that
paved the way for the thrilling overtime.
Veteran guard JP Alcaraz then took over
in the extra period, pouring in six of his 12 points
in a 12-4 Magnolia run that clinched for the team the
come-from-behind win.
“All things happen for a purpose.
He was our 13th player and in the reserved list, but
got to play after Lisztan Amparado got injured,”
said Magnolia coach Koy Banal of his supposed reserve
point guard.
Regulation period ended at 76-76 after
Pharex’s Ian Salagada nailed two pressure-packed
free throws off a foul by Fil-Am Spartacus Rodriguez.
Defeat stared the Wizards early in the
third period when they trailed by as many as 35-51 early
in the third period.
They were still behind at 52-62 when Escueta
began to take charge.
Fielded in only during the second half,
the Ateneo point guard drained a three-pointer and then
completed two perfect assists to Eder Saldua as the
Wizards closed in at 68-69.
After Salagada committed a turnover at
the other end, Dylan Ababou scored on a spin drive and
then sank the accompanying free throw to complete the
three-point play, allowing Magnolia to take the driver’s
seat at 71-69.
The Wizards are still protecting a 76-74
lead before Rodriguez fouled Salagada for an automatic
two.
“All I can say is he’s our
oxygen,” Banal said of Escueta. “When he
came in, the complexion of the game changed and he brought
us the positive energy we needed.”
Ababou, formerly of Harbour Centre, topscored
for 19 points along with Saldua. The pair opened the
scoring in overtime period, putting the Wizards up,
80-76, before Alcaraz caught fire and scored six straight
points.
The loss was the second straight for Pharex,
which got 18 and 17 points, respectively from Alfred
Gerilla and Conrad Bauzon. |
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