Eagles soar in Game 1

Ateneo-Hapee leaned on the clutch shooting of Larry Fonacier as it outlasted Blu Sun Power, 76-73, yesterday in Game 1 of their best-of-five PBL Chariman’s Cup title duel at the Makati Coliseum.

Fonacier, twice MVP in the UAAP juniors while playing for the Blue Eaglets, poured in seven of his 14 points in the fourth quarter including two crucial free throws with 11 seconds remaining that clinched the opener and gave the Eagles a one-game lead in the series.

"Larry Fonacier is playing heads-up basketball, he has done everything to lift this team," said Ateneo coach Joel Banal.

A triple by Fonacier in a pivotal 10-2 blast that turned a 64-67 deficit to a 74-69 lead with less than two minutes to go in the contest had the Eagles celebrating early.

But Blu coach Leo isaac, who steered the Detergent Kings to an 84-77 win over ICTSI-La Salle that clinched them a seat in the finals, sued for time and came up with two offensive plays from Tristan Codamon and Aries Dimaunahan and a couple of defensive stops that pushed the team to within one, 73-74.

But Lou Gatumbato turned the ball to Andrew Cruz with 11.1 seconds remaining in the clash, leading to a fouling spree that sent Fonacier to the free throw line for the clincher.

The Detergent Kings had 3.5 seconds to work out one offensive play to send the game into overtime but Erick dela Cuesta’s desperataion three-pointer bounced off the rim as time expired.

Earlier, Cyrus Baguio and Allan Salangsang scored all but one of Kutitap Toothpaste’s overtime points as it turned back ICTSI-La Salle, 82-76, in Game 1 of their best-of-three series for third place.