Esperat's 3-pointer catapults SH parents to FYA cage title

CEBU – Former UV standout Jayzar Esperat knocked in a last-second triple off the glass as Sacred Heart Parents Association flustered Tri J Marketing-Don Bosco, 104-101, to clinch the title of the 1st F. Llamas Youth Association (FYA) Friendship Cup the other night at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Gym in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city.

The Sacred Heart parents enjoyed a 96-85 lead, but Don Bosco employed a trapping defense in the final four minutes of the contest to stay within striking distance.

The Sacred Heart parents, beefed up by former San Beda juniors pointguard and now Red Cubs head coach Britt Carlo Reroma, recovered in time to regain a 99-91 edge underneath the final two-minute zone of the contest.

However, the Chrissar Llegunas-led Don Bosco mounted a courageous endgame rally to square the count at 101-all on two free throws by ex-USC Warrior Mark Ignatius Loyola with 29 seconds left to play.

In the final play of the game, Esperat carefully dribbled the ball and then quickly heaved an 18-foot jumper using the board. The ball went it while the buzzer was still in progress.

The Bosconians protested the call, but the referees stood pat on their decision to count the shot, insisting that they heard they prolonged sound of the buzzer when Esperat had already released the leather.

It was a sweet redemption for Esperat as he earlier committed two costly errors that pumped up life to Don Bosco's comeback attempts. He topscored for Sacred Heart with a game-high 33 points.

Jaymay Canoy, Esperat's former UV teammate, tossed in 20 points, while the indefatigable Esteban Cesar Ortega unloaded 15 markers highlighted by a pair of beautiful reverse layups. Reroma who had so many accurate and point-blank assists, finished with 12 points.

Llegunas and Loyola each scored 21 points for Don Bosco. Jorey Perez added 17 points followed by Junbel Llegunas with 12.

The scores

Sacred Heart (104) - Esperat 33, Canoy 20, Ortega 15, Reroma 12, Bacalso 12, Tangarorang 6, Nazareno 4, Chua 2

Tri J-Don Bosco (101) - C. Llegunas 21, Loyola 21, Perez 17, J. Llegunas 12, Padayao 9, G. Canceko 8, Noel 7, Santos 4, J. Canceko 2 Halftime: 48-50 (GGM) (THE FREEMAN)