Besanes powers Mang Inasal past Heartvit

CEBU, Philippines - Glen Besanes scored a tip-in just in the nick of time to lift Mang Inasal to an 81-80 cliffhanger over Heartvit in the Punta Princesa Ball Club (PPBC) 2009 Vice Mayor Mike Rama Cup basketball tournament at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Gym in Brgy. Punta Princesa, this city.

Besanes charted only 12 points but he undoubtedly hit the biggest shot of the day as Mang Inasal improved its win-loss record to 3-2.

Ex-Pro Lou Regidor topscored for Mang Inasal with 22 points followed by Carlos Porras with 20.

Mang Inasal went off to a hot start behind the explosive tandem of Regidor and Porras as they took a 67-57 lead at the end of the third period.

 The Heartvit mainstays, however, slowly regained their strength in the fourth period to forge a 75-all and even took the lead for the first time, 77-76, on two free throws by Fred Lim with less than two minutes left to play.

Heartvit hang on to a shaky 80-79 edge until Besanes played the hero’s role by drilling in a follow-up shot off a miss by Regidor at the final buzzer that vaulted Mang Inasal to cloud nine.

Earlier, J-Art escaped with a 102-97 victory over Wilkris of team owner Gideon Cabatingan.

Team owner Jimbo Noel topped J-Art with 34, while Glen Birao chipped in 20 markers. (GGM)   (FREEMAN NEWS)