Post by Lebron23 on Apr 30, 2007 2:45:58 GMT -5
DEFENDING CHAMPION Harbour Centre streaked to its third straight by downing San Miguel-Magnolia, 79-72, yesterday in the PBL Unity Cup yesterday at The Arena in San Juan.
A big disappointment the last time out, JC Intal led the Batang Pier with 15 points, five rebounds, three steals and an assist in what could be his best game so far in the season-ending tournament.
Three other Harbour players, led by the exciting Jason Castro, posted in double figures as they gave their supporters the idea how potent they are if they only play as one fighting unit.
Castro had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes of action, while the hard-working Ryan Arana and Chico Lanete combined for 25 points.
In the second game, reigning three-point king Patrick Cabahug banked a trey with 26.3 seconds left as Toyota Balintawak scored a pulsating 78-71 win over a hard luck Henkel Sista.
Although Erick Rodriguez failed to give the Toyota Roadkings the upper hand when he managed only a split of his charities for a 71-71 count, Cabahug rose to the occasion as he knocked in his third and last triple which turned out to be the go-ahead basket.
"It was a hard win but I have to give credit to the boys for not giving up. They really persevered despite our poor start," said coach Ariel Vanguardia. "I told Patrick to be patient, luckily he made the biggest shot of the game."
For making all his shots from the three-point area and hitting all his 9 gift shots, Cabahug finished with 28 points as the Roadkings completed a remarkable comeback from a 20-point deficit in the second quarter.
Rodriguez gave Cabahug ample support as he banged in 17 points while Dennis Daa, who started Toyota Balintawak"s uprising, tallied 13 points.
The Roadkings outscored the Super Sealers 29-9 in the fourth quarter.
Though the final score appeared to be a tight contest, the game was totally dominated by the Batang Pier with their nifty shooting and rock-solid defense.
But the win failed to satisfy coach Jorge Gallent's craving.
"It could be sweeter if they did not relax in the final three minutes, we have to correct that before it?s too late," said Gallent. "We are strong if we play as a team but if we pla individually we will not go far in this tournament."
Still, the victory enabled the Batang Pier to tie idle Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala for second to third places at 3-1.
The Beverage Masters dropped to 1-3. With Intal and Arana leading Harbour's telling third quarter breakaway, the Batang Pier made the Beverage Masters look like a second rate squad as they posted a 20-point lead, 64-44.
Feeling they had already sewn up the win, the Batang Pier suddenly went cold, and worse, they turned the ball many times allowing the Beverage Masters to close in at 63-72 on two straight baskets by Allan Evangelista.
But a triple by Chico Lanete immediately restored order for Harbour, 75-63, only 87 ticks left. The Batang Pier failed to buy a single basket in the last 60 seconds but there was no way the Beverage Masters could turn the game around.
The scores:
First Game
Harbour Centre 79 :Intal 15, Arana 13, Lanete 12, Castro 10, Belga 6, Capati 6, Alonzo 5, Asoro 4, Vergara 4, Duncil 2, Lingao-Lingao 0, Fernandez 0.
San Miguel-Magnolia 72 : Custodio 11, Benitez 9, Evangelista 9, Raneses 8, Villanueva 7, Magpayo 5, Jones 4, Espiritu 4, Bombeo 4, Sorongon3, Angeles 3, Chan 2, Doruelo 2, Natividad 1, Almeda 1.
Quarters: 23-16, 40-33; 64-47; 79-72.
Second Game
Toyota Balintawak 78 : Cabahug 28, Rodriguez 17, Daa 13, Fajardo 8, Baluyot 5, Coronel 4, Tan 3, Alcaraz 0, Pradas 0, Dedicatoria 0, Jaime 0, Guerrero 0, Yabut 0.
Henkel Sista 71 : Javier 19, Malabanan 18, Matias 7, Saldua 6, Eman 4, Bonus 4, Bauzon 4, Ebuen 2, Alfad 2, Villamin 2, Yambao 0.
Quarters: 15-20; 29-45; 49-62; 78-71
A big disappointment the last time out, JC Intal led the Batang Pier with 15 points, five rebounds, three steals and an assist in what could be his best game so far in the season-ending tournament.
Three other Harbour players, led by the exciting Jason Castro, posted in double figures as they gave their supporters the idea how potent they are if they only play as one fighting unit.
Castro had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes of action, while the hard-working Ryan Arana and Chico Lanete combined for 25 points.
In the second game, reigning three-point king Patrick Cabahug banked a trey with 26.3 seconds left as Toyota Balintawak scored a pulsating 78-71 win over a hard luck Henkel Sista.
Although Erick Rodriguez failed to give the Toyota Roadkings the upper hand when he managed only a split of his charities for a 71-71 count, Cabahug rose to the occasion as he knocked in his third and last triple which turned out to be the go-ahead basket.
"It was a hard win but I have to give credit to the boys for not giving up. They really persevered despite our poor start," said coach Ariel Vanguardia. "I told Patrick to be patient, luckily he made the biggest shot of the game."
For making all his shots from the three-point area and hitting all his 9 gift shots, Cabahug finished with 28 points as the Roadkings completed a remarkable comeback from a 20-point deficit in the second quarter.
Rodriguez gave Cabahug ample support as he banged in 17 points while Dennis Daa, who started Toyota Balintawak"s uprising, tallied 13 points.
The Roadkings outscored the Super Sealers 29-9 in the fourth quarter.
Though the final score appeared to be a tight contest, the game was totally dominated by the Batang Pier with their nifty shooting and rock-solid defense.
But the win failed to satisfy coach Jorge Gallent's craving.
"It could be sweeter if they did not relax in the final three minutes, we have to correct that before it?s too late," said Gallent. "We are strong if we play as a team but if we pla individually we will not go far in this tournament."
Still, the victory enabled the Batang Pier to tie idle Cebuana Lhuillier Pera Padala for second to third places at 3-1.
The Beverage Masters dropped to 1-3. With Intal and Arana leading Harbour's telling third quarter breakaway, the Batang Pier made the Beverage Masters look like a second rate squad as they posted a 20-point lead, 64-44.
Feeling they had already sewn up the win, the Batang Pier suddenly went cold, and worse, they turned the ball many times allowing the Beverage Masters to close in at 63-72 on two straight baskets by Allan Evangelista.
But a triple by Chico Lanete immediately restored order for Harbour, 75-63, only 87 ticks left. The Batang Pier failed to buy a single basket in the last 60 seconds but there was no way the Beverage Masters could turn the game around.
The scores:
First Game
Harbour Centre 79 :Intal 15, Arana 13, Lanete 12, Castro 10, Belga 6, Capati 6, Alonzo 5, Asoro 4, Vergara 4, Duncil 2, Lingao-Lingao 0, Fernandez 0.
San Miguel-Magnolia 72 : Custodio 11, Benitez 9, Evangelista 9, Raneses 8, Villanueva 7, Magpayo 5, Jones 4, Espiritu 4, Bombeo 4, Sorongon3, Angeles 3, Chan 2, Doruelo 2, Natividad 1, Almeda 1.
Quarters: 23-16, 40-33; 64-47; 79-72.
Second Game
Toyota Balintawak 78 : Cabahug 28, Rodriguez 17, Daa 13, Fajardo 8, Baluyot 5, Coronel 4, Tan 3, Alcaraz 0, Pradas 0, Dedicatoria 0, Jaime 0, Guerrero 0, Yabut 0.
Henkel Sista 71 : Javier 19, Malabanan 18, Matias 7, Saldua 6, Eman 4, Bonus 4, Bauzon 4, Ebuen 2, Alfad 2, Villamin 2, Yambao 0.
Quarters: 15-20; 29-45; 49-62; 78-71