Nestor Patindol hit a medium-range jumper with two seconds left in the contest to power the Joey Cal-sponsored Mandaue Jaycees to a 71-70 cliffhanger over Versacool in the Jaycees Basketball Association (JBA) President’s Cup 2008 last Tuesday at the City Sports Club-Cebu gym.
Thus, Mandaue Jaycees firmed up their grip of the solo lead with a clean 3-0 slate.
It was a tight-rope match from the start because after a 32-all deadlock at halftime, Mandaue held on a matchstick edge, 52-51, going into the final period.
With only 7.3 seconds left, Versacool was headed for the win after Jeremy Huang split his charities to give his team a 70-69 lead.
However, that set the stage for Patindol’s heroics. He cleverly beat his defenders to sink the game-clincher.
Patindol topscored Mandaue Jaycees with 18 points followed by Edgar Colina with 12 markers,
Huang topscored with 28 points, while Edmund Odulio and Benedict Chua banged in 28 markers combined but their efforts went for naught as Versacool suffered its second loss in three games.
In the other game, Landview devoured Dencraft, 81-63, behind Pocholo Lao’s 23-point performance. Peter Sta. Maria hada game-high tying 23 points for Dencraft.
The scores
First game
Mandaue Jaycees (71) - Patindol 18, Colina 12, Magallano 6. Garxia 6, Ong 6, Latonio 6, Cortes 5. E. Latonio 4, P. Garcia 3, Balbunea 2, Cal 2
Versacool (70) - Huang 28, Chua 16, Odullo 12, Sy 7, Veloso 3, Mercado 2, Tolentino 2
Second game
Landview (81) - Lao 23, D. Hing 18, Go 14, Ang 10, Gollon 8, Tan 4, M. Hing 2, Sy 2
Dencraft (63) - P. Sta. Maria 23, Noel 20, Jayme 14, Yu 4, Seno 2 (GGM)