Jason Opiso tipped in the ball with 1.9 seconds left to lift the Quezon Huskers past the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters, 65-64, on Tuesday and force a Game Three decider for the South Division crown of the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the overcrowded Batangas City Coliseum.
The game-clincher that came after Judel Fuentes missed a triple attempt, completed the Huskers’ comeback, sparked by LJ Gonzales, from a 56-64 deficit with 1 minute and 58 seconds left that tied the best-of-three series at 1-1.
Gonzales bunched seven points in the homestretch before Opiso and was chosen the Daily Fantasy best player after posting 17 points in total plus 7 rebounds.
Other Huskers who delivered for Coach Eric Gonzales were Fuentes, who managed 15 points despite making only three of 20 field goal tries plus 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Ximone Sandagon with 8 points plus 14 rebounds and Rodel Gravera with 8 points plus 4 rebounds.
Batangas, which erected a 57-47 spread in the fourth quarter, got 18 points plus 4 rebounds from Levi Hernandez, 15 points plus 6 rebounds from Juneric Baloria and 6 points from John Ambulodto.
The Rum Masters led with only 10.8 seconds to go, but Jong Baloria’s dribble went out of bounds for the turnover.
The deciding Game Three will be held in Lucena City on Thursday, Nov. 14.
Batangas took Game One, 75-69, on Nov. 9 at the Lucena Convention Center.
With Hernandez drilling in two triples, Batangas scored 10 points against Quezon’s two to surge ahead, 30-24, with 6:15 left in the second quarter.
The Huskers, however, clustered 7 points and knotted the halftime count at 34.
