TAGUM CITY – Hesed Gabo scored on a short stab – his only basket of the game – and Jay Collado made a pivotal block as Basilan Steel stunned the Davao Occidental Tigers, 74-72, in the opener of their Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season South division finals Monday at Davao del Norte Sports Complex here.
The Tigers seized the lead following a triple by June Mocon with 45 seconds to go, but Gabo quickly put the Steel back on top, 73-72, with a floater off the outstretched arms of Mark Yee nine seconds later.
In the next play, the Tigers’ Billy Robles penetrated only for his shot to be swatted by Collado with seven seconds to go, preserving the hard-earned victory for the Steel in the game that started late Monday and ended early Tuesday after the league permit to use RMC Petro Gazz Arena got revoked due to the COVID 19 scare.
Basilan chief gunner Allyn Bulanadi split his free throws with five seconds left for the final tally as Mocon missed what could have been a game-tying buzzer-beater.
Meanwhile, San Juan-Go for Gold used a big fourth quarter onslaught to rout Makati, 76-60, in the North Division Finals.
Trailing 51-46, late in the third period, San Juan unleashed 10 unanswered points to end the quarter ahead, 56-51.
Then the Knights wreaked havoc defensively in the fourth frame, limiting Makati to just a field goal and a freebie in the first 8:08 of the period, while scoring 15 to build a 16-point advantage with 1:52 left, 71-55.
“Noong halftime, sabi ko lang pantayan o higitan pa namin yung energy ng Makati para makuha namin yung panalo,” said Knights coach Randy Alcantara, who drew 19 points and 18 rebounds from Jhonard Clarito.
“Sipag lang. Sabi kasi sa amin ng coaches, higpitan lang yung depensa, tulong tulong lang. Bonus na lang yung mga puntos ko,” said Clarito.
