La Salle outshines Ateneo, shares lead

ICTSI-La Salle showed the bigger heart, keeping its composure down the heartstopping final minute to reassert its supremacy over Ateneo-Hapee-Negros Navigation, 78-73, to gain a share of the lead in the semifinals of the 2002 PBL Chairman’s Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

James Yap pivoted the ICTSI-Archers comeback in the third quarter where he drilled in 14 of his game-high 24 points, and joined Mike Cortez in the deciding endgame assault.

Though both the Blue Eagles and the ICTSI Archers hold similar 10-5 records, the latter claims the No. 1 spot by virtue of the win.

"It’s our third straight semifinal win and I commend the boys for giving their best. It’s basically a team effort, everybody responded well," said ICTSI-La Salle coach Franz Pumaren.

The match went through four lead changes and seven deadlocks, the last at 71 all after Ateneo-Hapee-Negros Navigation’s Wesley Gonzales fired a trey, 58.4 seconds remaining.

But the ICTSI Archers showed better nerves down the stretch. Mike Cortez squeezed in between big men Enrico Villanueva and Rich Alvarez and converted a left hook that gave ICTSI-La Salle a 73-71 edge, 41.1 seconds remaining.