CEBU, Philippines – The Atan Guardpo-sponsored ACN/Binglens of Labangon, raced from an 18-point halftime deficit and watched the 24/7 Freight make a failed comeback to escape with a 72-66 come-from-behind victory in last Sunday’s game of the ongoing 1st M. Lhuillier Cup basketball tournament at the Cogon, Pardo gym.
The action inside the court was so intense that a near fisfight ensued.
Earlier, the Asian College of Technology (ACT) Cyber Knights bounced back from its loss to CSD Power Brokers in Consolacion last week and vented their ire against the Perfect Freight Forwarders with a merciless 79-48 demolition.
The Cyber Knights now tote a 1-1 win-loss record.
The 24/7 Freight lost a 40-22 halftime lead as Binglens rallied at the start of the third period as it grabbed the lead for good, 52-50 on Rey dela Victoria’s two gift shots with no time left ending the quarter.
After Allain Abellanosa hit back-to-back triples for a 66-59 Binglens lead with 3:05 left in the ballgame, Abellanosa was guarded by pesky defender Paul Norman Joven of 24/7 and Abellanosa was slapped with an offensive foul for a strong bump then skipper Mark Abadia approached Abellanosa to come into Joven’s rescue that nearly triggered a bench-emptying melee at the 2:40 mark which was luckily aborted by the referees and the other players from the both camps.
Abe Galinato had 13 points for Binglens, Jessie Lumantas added 12 while Ope Abellana and Abellanosa had 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Joven Cid Cortes of USC Warriors and ex-FEU star Paul Alelo Flores had 12 points each for 24/7 Freight who now dropped to 1-1 win-loss card.
Earlier, Elmer Aparice was back in the harness to lead the Cyber Knights with 13 points while three of his teammates finished in double figures.
The scores:
First Game:
ACT (79) — Aparice 13, Canahap 11, Reyes 11, Pontemayor 10, Valencia 8, Vistal 8, Nuñez 6, Cadiz 6, Paraguya 4, Doy 2.
Perfect Freight (48) — Miro 13, Panerio 9, A. Lim 8, Que 8, Sahilan 3, Escudero 2, Ocaña 2.
Second Game:
Binglens (72) — Galinato 13, Lumantas 12, Abellana 11, Abellanosa 10, Dela Victoria 8, Abelong 7, Licanda 4, Canceran 3, Garcia 2.
24/7 Freight (66) — Cortes 12, Flores 12, Tangarorang 9, Abadia 7, Villagonzalo 5, Dela Rama 5, Jueves 4, Loyola 4, Joven 3, Potencioso 2, Gallarde 1. (GGM) (THE FREEMAN)