Mantawi forges rubber vs. Valencia in NBC tilt

The Hapee-Dewfoam Mantawi Sparkling Knights pummeled the visiting Valencia-Bukidnon Golden Harvest, 100-85, to forge a rubbermatch in their best-of-three quarterfinal series in the Panasonic-NBC National Championship on Monday night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex. The series is now tied at one game apiece as Valencia took the series opener at its turf, 91-84, last September 20.

Ardy Larong poured in 15 of his 26 points in the first half to lead Hapee's offense. He was too hot that he almost couldn't miss despite being hounded by Valencia's pesky defense.

Hapee, which led in all departments, opened the third period with a 56-37 edge, but Valencia never gave up to cut the deficit down to just nine points, 78-87, at the final 2:00 mark of the contest.

Nat Cruz and Jimmy Taligatos engineered a 14-5 run for Valencia, but Hapee played cool under heavy fire to live and fight for another day.

Joining Taligatos and Cruz in a daring fourth-quarter run were ex-Cagayan de Oro Star Julius Navales, Jester Adams, Rocky Clavel and Joel Gragasin, whose opening triple gave Valencia its first and only lead in the game at 3-0.

Taligatos, a very physical player, led Valencia with 13 points, while Cruz, a former center from Bacchus in the PBL, scored 11 points. While Navales was able to chip in nine points, the missing factors for Valencia were Dino Cabili, Rene Toring, and Joselito Celiz, who combined for only 10 points.

The game went a bit physical towards the end, with Hapee's Jason Alminario and Valencia's Kim Madera being slapped with double technical with only one minute left to play.

Hapee's other top scorers were Chris Carretas with 16 points and Maui Heular with 14 points. Over at the Gov. Angel Medina Sr. gym in Ozamiz City, Ozamiz Cotta's ace slotman Christian Nicdao bounced back from a scoreless Game 1 to lead his team to an 88-74 rout of the Iligan Crusaders to forge a do-or-die game in their semifinal series.

Nicdao hit his first two baskets to open the game as he scattered 14 points on a 6-of-12 shooting and added seven rebounds, five blocks and two assists, while Milfred Sampilo topscored with 16 points.

Nicdao's emotional breakout game in the series inspired the whole team as all of the other 10 players fielded in scored a basket.

Unheralded Roland Delina came off the bench to put up career-high of 13 points and five rebounds in 18 minutes of play for Mayor Reynaldo Parojinog's Cotta Shrine team, which lost Game 1, 79-72, in Iligan.

The 6-foot-4 Ozamiz native shot five-of-seven from the field, scoring twice in offensive putback late in the game that negated any chance for a Crusaders' comeback.

The game, which was accounted for 12 lead changes and five deadlocks, was close in the fist half but Ozamiz took control starting in the third quarter behind Delina and Sampilo to post a commanding 58-44 advantage.

"I told the team that if we lose this one, all our efforts that gave us the top seed will just go down the drain. And they responded with their big hearts. I give special credit for Christian (Nicdao) and Toto (Delina)," Ozamiz coach Albert Calvo said.

Dondon Mendoza and Jerome Barbosa tried to carry the fight for the Crusaders as the duo combined for 28 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but failed to get enough support from their perimeter shooters, who had a woeful 3-for-13 stint in the three-point territory.

First game

Ozamiz (88) - Sampilo 16, Nicdao 14, Delina 13, Liangco 9, Bansil 7, Cabigkis 7, Butel 6, Alberto 6, Ilanga 6, Alvarado 2, Libatog 2

Iligan (74) - Mendoza 16, Barbosa 12, Fajardo 9, Cavan 8, Dy 7, Ayodelle 6, De Guzman 4, Roque 4, Oliveros 3, Sagad 3, Faustino 2

Quarterscores: 20-19, 44-38, 61-51, 88-74

Second game

Mantawi (100) - Larong 26, Carretas 16, Huelar 14, Daa 9, Moreño 8, Santos 7, Alminario 6, Tundag 6, Gloria 5, Bajenting 2, France 1

Valencia (85) - Taligatos 13, Cruz 11, Navales 9, Nailon 8, Madera 8, Clavel 8, Adams 7, Gragasin 6, Cabili 5, Berami 3, Toring 3, Celiz 2, Bayron 2

Quarterscores: 27-15, 54-37, 76-60, 100-85