Marlins nip Cebu Gems in overtime

Bong Alvarez and Aldrich Reyes delivered the baskets when they mattered most as Socsargen-Taguig snatched a 106-103 overtime victory over Cebuana-Lhuillier yesterday in the MBA Second Phase at the San Juan gym.

Both canned two free throws in the dying seconds to power the Marlins to their very first victory after dropping their first five assignments.

The Gems saw their three-game win run snap as they slid to 3-3 in the Southern Conference.

The Marlins could’ve actually won the game in regulation, but Melvin Taguines’ putback off a miss by Peter Naron was counted as time expired, forcing the extension at 93-all.

Socsargen-Taguig again looked headed to victory when it took a 102-97 lead with 1:02 remaining in the game.

But Gems Stephen Padilla and Al Solis came through with a triple each as the Gems regained the lead in the final 25 seconds.

However, Alvarez drove in and converted his charities off Bobby Jose to give the Marlins a one-point lead, 104-103. And after Gem Carlos Sayon committed a passing error, Reyes sealed the outcome with two more free throws off Solis.

Like in their first encounter last Friday, which Cebuana-Lhuillier won, 90-86, neither team led by more than seven points.