CEBU, Philippines - Ex-pro Bonel Balingit and Moloy Divinagracia scored crucial free throws to bail out Theam Cargo/Mambaling and helped the team enter the final of the 2011 St. Augustine Cup basketball tournament at the Inayawan Sports Complex.
The team would have met a humbling experience after it lost a 14-point lead late in the third period before struggling to an 81-77 victory over Alberto's Pizza.
Theam Cargo Forwarding Services, bannered by players from barangay Mambaling will face host barangay Inayawan-Akira in the final on Sunday.
Inayawan booked the first final slot after scoring a come-from-behind 90-95 victory over barangay Pardo last Tuesday.
Balingit, the biggest man on the court at 6-6 with a hulking body frame, converted three straight gift shots as Theam Cargo/Mambaling hanged on to a brittle 79-77 edge in the final 40.3 seconds.
Divinagracia, the smallest man inside the court standing a little over than 5-2, picked up a loose ball after a wild scramble at undergoal then scored two insurance free throws to give Theam Cargo/Mambaling enough breathing space with an 81-77 lead with only 1.8 seconds left in the contest.
Wowie Escocio responded the call on the absence of veteran center Danny de los Santos due to an injury, top scored for Theam Cargo with 19 points.
Another ex-pro Felix Belano, who is also a UV product like Balingit, added 13 points while Michael Sumayang had 12 points for Theam Cargo of veteran coach and CESAFI deputy commissioner Danny Duran.
Ex-USC Warrior Enrico Llanto who did not play in their elimination round loss, led Alberto's with 24 points even as Aying and Sanoy finished with 15 points apiece and Martin Groogard had 14 markers.
The scores:
Theam Cargo/Mambaling (81) - Escocio 19, Belano 13, Sumayang 12, Lopez 8, Balingit 7, Alano 6, Daclan 6, Divinagracia 4, Duran 2, Camay 2
Alberto's Pizza (77) - Llanto 24, Aying 5, Sanoy 15, M. Groogard 14, Labay 6, H. Groogard 2 Halftime: 50-38 (FREEMAN)