Jason Sasser scored a game-high 32 points but it was Pop Cola’s resolute defense that proved to be the key as the Panthers survived an atrocious 15-percent shooting in the first quarter to notch their third win in six outings.
The Panthers actually gained their bearing on offense in the second half, but they still had to call on their tough defense to stave off a last-ditch effort by the Phone Pals to clinch the win in the closing seconds.
Down by three at 77-80, the Phone Pals had a solid crack at sending the game into overtime but just couldn’t get a good look at the basket with their Pop Cola defenders all over them.
Mobiline eventually absorbed its third defeat against two wins as Jerod Ward and Patrick Fran missed three attempts from beyond the arc in the final 46 seconds of play.
"I don’t know how we won this game. We couldn’t shoot the basket at the start. This is a tribute to the scrappiness of the team. The boys just refused to give up," said Pop Cola coach Chot Reyes.
"However, no matter how good we play on defense, if we can’t shoot the basket, we’ll have a big problem because at the end of the day, ang bottomline sa basketball ay paramihan ng score. We have to make our shots," he added.
The Panthers’ sputtering offense at the start allowed the Phone Pals to seize the initiative early, sitting on a 23-11 cushion at the end of the first quarter. In that period, the Panthers made only three of their 20 field-goal attempts for a 15-percent clip.
Pop Cola finished with a 35-percent shooting as it found its touch in the second half. Curiously, the Panthers held the Phone Pals also to a 35-percent shooting.
Reyes also lauded the efforts of reserve players Ato Morano and Chris Bolado, who delivered coming off the bench to replace the struggling Johnny Abarrientos and Poch Juinio in the second half. Morano and Bolado hit clutch baskets in a decisive run that had Pop Cola seizing a 78-69 lead, entering the final three minutes of play.
With Ward resting on the bench, Asi Taulava, who had a solid double-double showing, took charge for Mobiline and the Phone Pals got back into the game, moving within a point at 77-78.
But the Panthers would not crack out.
It was a sorry loss for Taulava, who came out with a splendid game, making 17 points and 20 rebounds.