Ave Maria/USJ-R notches fifth straight win in M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cup

CEBU, Philippines – Bobby Hatague sank a buzzer-beating fadeaway jumper to help the Ave Maria Sanctuary Park/USJ-R Jaguars keep their undefeated record intact via a nerve-wracking 87-85 win over the stubborn CSC Builders in the 1st M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cup basketball tournament at the Pooc gym in Talisay City.

The CSD Builders were staring victory with a six points lead, 83-77, with only 95 seconds left to play, but they were suddenly rattled by Ave Maria’s porous trapping defense.

As a result, the Builders committed four straight turnovers, which the Jaguars translated into golden points to wrest the driver’s seat 85-83 with less than a minute to play.

In the ensuing sequence, CDC’s Franklin Nailon converted a basket to lock the count at 85-all with only nine ticks remaining before the final buzzer.

Ave Maria then called for a timeout, which worked wonders for the Jaguars as Hatague courageously beat his defenders and then sank a medium-range shot just as the gameblock expired, leaving the entire CSD bench on a pensive mode.

Hatague finished with 14 points. It was flashy guard Armand Ponce though who topscored with 16 markers as Ave Maria of team owner Raffy Senining tightened their grip of the overall lead with an immaculate 5-0 record. Commercial standout Luther Luke Justiniani banged in 15 points, while Gabe Delfino added 11 points.

Jared Kane Abatayo cashed in 20 points, while Nailon pitched in 19 for the CSD Builders. Aldrin Ocañada managed only a dozen markers as they fell to 3-3 in a tie with the San Remigio Beach Club (SRBC).

The scores

Ave Maria SP (87) — Ponce 16, Justiniani 15, Hatague 14, Delfino 11, Malinao 9, Lartoza 7, Gabas 7, Lapiz 6, Antigua 2

CSD Builders (85) — Abatayo 20, Nailon 19, Ocañada 12, De los Santos 10, Jaca 9, Abobo 7, Sereño 6, Sayson 2

Quarterscores:18-25, 42-38, 62-59, 87-85 — EBV (THE FREEMAN)