Threesixty Pharmacy Hoop, Adgers nips USC/RDAK, 69-67

CEBU, Philippines - Adgers Sportswear relied on a balanced attack and end-game composure to nip the University of San Carlos/RDAK, 69-67, and force a deciding rubber match in the championship series of the 19 Under division of the ThreeSixty Pharmacy Cup 2012.

But it didn’t come easy. For the second game in a row, the Sportsmasters controlled most parts of the game, only to lose momentum, and recover just in time to score the nail-biting win.

All throughout the game, Adgers would take charge and enjoy leads of as much as eight points only to relax and allow USC/RDAK to rally. Adgers’s had its first attempt to break open a close game when it took a 40-32 lead in the third quarter coming off a 26-24 halftime lead. But USC/RDAK would rally to cut the lead to 50-47 after the third period. The fourth quarter was a thrilling exchange of baskets that included three ties in the last five minutes of the game.

After an Allan Dimco free throw that gave Adgers a 58-56 lead, Anthony Romaguerra made two charities to tie the game for the first time at 58-all.

USC/RDAK had been trailing all the way at this point of the game. Another exchange of baskets tied the game at 60-all and 62-all with 3:01 left. Clyven Limalima and Mark Kong then transpired for a four straight points for a 66-62 lead, 2:11 left. John Saycon replied with two free throws to cut the lead to 66-64, 1:21 left.

Lugie Cuyos answered with a basket after a mad scramble for the loose ball to give Adgers a 68-64 lead with 44 seconds left. But Jasper Diaz nailed a triple to cut the lead to 68-67, 34.7 seconds left in the game.

On the next play, Limalima would be good on only one free throw for a 69-67 lead, giving USC/RDAK the chance to tie the game. Coach Mike Reyes then designed a play off a baseline inbound which found Matthew Parker open for a short stab, but the timely help defense of Adgers forced a foul, sending Parker to the free throw line with 1.5 seconds left.

Parker missed the first then intentionally missed the second free throw hoping for an offensive rebound.

 In a better display of spreading the offense, Dimco, Cuyos and Kong each had 16 points to lead Adgers. Jasper Diaz led USC/RDAK with 17 points, followed by Romaguerra’s 14. USC/RDAK enjoyed a twice to beat advantage after topping the elimination round, and the loss set the stage for one final game today.

The ThreeSixty Pharmacy Cup 2012 is the flagship tournament of the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL) which is now on its fifth season. With the addition of the newly created 19-Under division, the league has grown to 42 teams in four age groups.

Box scores:

Adgers (69) – Kong 16,  Dimco 16, Cuyos 16, Limalima 8, Nazareno 6, Eboña 4, Espina 3.

USC/RDAK (67) – Diaz 17, Romaguerra 14, Parker 13, Saycon 12, Rita 4, Malana 4, Pajantoy 1, Jaca 1, Bacaltos 1.

Quarterscores: 14-13, 26-24, 50-47, 69-67. - THE FREEMAN