Tribes absorb second defeat in a row in NBC

ILOILO CITY - After tasting its first home loss last Monday, the defending champion Skygo/Sirlitz-backed Tribu Sugbu experienced yet another first as they lost for the second time in a row, bowing to the Iloilo Warriors, 89-84, at the University of San Agustin gym here.

Game today St. Louis Univ gym Baguio vs Mantawi 6pm Ex-pro Chris Cantonjos struck down hard in the homestretch as the veteran slotman scored Iloilo's final seven points to bail them out of Tribu Sugbu's spirited rally.

Cebuano playmaker Alex Cainglet fired a triple to tie the game, 82-all, in the 1:50 mark before Cantonjos started to hit his stride.

The 6-foot-6 PBA veteran traded baskets with Tribu's Neil Rañeses for the last deadlock, 84-all, and then made a three-point play off Chris Guerrero's foul to give the Warriors a slim 87-84 margin, 52.6 seconds remaining.

Tribu Sugbu had another lease of life when Francis Sanz muffed his free throws, 28.6 ticks left, but could not convert in the ensuing play and Lowell Briones kicked the ball out of frustration earning a technical foul.

Eduardo Allado, Jr. missed the technical free throws in the final 8.4 seconds but Cantonjos grabbed the rebound and sealed the game at the charity stripes.

"We beat the defending champions and this is a big morale booster for the boys. I hope we can sustain this winning form as we hunt for a possible homecourt advantage in the play-offs," Iloilo coach John Trompeta said.

The Warriors of IBL President Robert Uy and strong supported Gov. Niel Tupas improved to 3-7 in the tournament supported by Panasonic, Sulpicio Lines, Sunbolt Sports Drink, Spring Cooking Oil, Accel, Molten, Nature's Spring, Far Eastern Insurance, Skygo Motorcycles, Sirlitz Solutions Provider, Hapee Toothpaste, Dewfoam, KSK Food Products (Boy Bawang), Bayview Park Hotel and Holiday Plaza-Cebu.

On the other hand, the Tribu Sugbu of businessmen Lito Gillamac and Mario King dropped to 7-4, behind Ozamiz Cotta (7-2) but just a half game ahead of the streaking Iligan Crusaders (6-4) followed by the Mantawi Saprkling Nights (5-3), Valencia Golden Harvest (5-5), Iloilo, CdO Stars (2-4) and the Zanorte Hornbills (1-8).

The Warriors led from the start to finish in the tight battle against the defending champions, who lost an 83-80 overtime thriller to Parañaque Jets at home.

Meanwhile, the Hapee/Dewfoam-backed Sparkling Nights and supported by Mayor Thadeo "Teddy" Ouano begin its northern swing today as they go up against the Texas Instruments/Beneco-supported Baguio Lions of Vice Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. 6pm today at the St. Louis University gym in the summer capital of the country.

The Lions are holding a 1-5 mark ahead of the winless Bacchus/Harbour Centre-backed Manila (0-3), who is playing against the Far Eastern Insurance-supported Cavite of Bacoor Vice Mayor Edwin Malvar and strong supporter Gov. Irineo "Ayong" Maliksi as off presstime.

Forward Taguig paced the Northern Conference with a perfect 6-0 card followed by Laguna Spring (5-3), Cavite (6-5), Parañaque (5-6), Baguio and Manila.

NBC games are aired over the over National Broadcasting Network every 4 p.m. Sunday and on Prime Channel 2 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. daily.

The Scores:

Iloilo (89) - Sanz 18, Cantonjos 14, Balgos 11, Allado 10, Senierez 9, Poral 9, Arceño 8, Leonida 5, Pisueña 5, Sina-on 0, Manuel 0, Sencil 0, Penesa 0.

Cebu (84) - Rañeses 16, Guerrero 15, Cainglet 12, Briones 11, Bucao 9, Alamacin 8, Pening 4, Ursal 4, Ferraren 2, Mercado 2, Luga 1, Cabanes 0, Mangubat 0, Paglinawan 0, Ignacio 0.

Quarterscores: 23-20, 50-48, 72-64, 89-84.