Skygo tames Shark; John O edges Hapee

Skygo Riders showed no fear against a PBL champion as it outlasted Regent Cheese Ball-Shark, 67-66, yesterday at the kickoff of the first PBL-CBF Dual Meet at the Makati Coliseum.

Alano Caputolan, who topped with 17 points, 13 rebounds and a block, drilled in two free throws off Francis Sanz in the final 2:37 that eventually decided the game.

"I did not really expect to win. We know how strong PBL teams are especially Shark, which won two league titles. But I told the boys to keep their composure down the stretch," said Edsel Valena, a former Serg’s reserved player in then PABL back in 1987.

"Medyo nag-collapse yung opensa naming sa endgame. So I told the boys to step up on defense, we have good chances in the last 6.3 seconds since we still have two fouls to give," he added.

Valena further bared that the team was only completed yesterday morning. But reinforcements Jercules Tangkay, Bruce Dacia, Randy Lopez and Jessie Lumantas quickly jelled with the team and gave Cheese Ball-Shark a tough fight.

The Skygo Riders even led as many as seven points, 52-45, with 2:19 remaining.

Regent-Shark tried to get back but likewise can’t get its offense going. Only Ernani Epondulan scored in the final quarter scattering 12 of his 15 points, including two triples — the last gave regent-Shark a 66-64 edge with 3:17 left.

In the second game, John-O came back in the final half and got the needed breaks in the final two minutes to turn back Hapee Toothpaste-Cebu, 78-75.