Vastly-improved Nelbert Omolon and flashy Chico Lanete unleashed a pair of monster games as they powered the Juicers to a stunning 88-85 double overtime win over the Teeth Sparklers Friday at the New Cebu City Coliseum.
The gem of a triumph, its third in seven matches, catapulted Nutri-licious from the bottom to the top of the Luzon Group, which included a skidding Blu Star Power (3-5) and LBC Batangas (3-5).
Hapee, on the other hand, remained at the helm but had to share it with John-O, which clobbered Montana Pawnshop Thursday, 81-64, on identical 6-2 records.
Youthful Nutri-licious coach Monel Kallos was impressed with the superb efforts of Omolon and Lanete in a win that restored the team’s confidence and morale going into their game against the Archers in Bacolod City.
"I have to give credit to Omolon and Lanete for playing heads up basketball especially in crucial stituations," said Kallos, once an assistant to Viva Mineral Water mentor Coy Banal in a collegiate school.
"This is a win that boosted our confidence level and gave us some momentum going into our Bacolod game versus ICTSI (3-5)," he added.
Omolon, a three-year veteran out of Philippine Christian University, was like a killing machine as he erupted for 36 points including two clutch three-pointers in the second overtime that knocked the lights out of the Teeth Sparklers, who came to Cebu boasting of a league-best record.
Lanete, on the other hand, finished with 26 markers, eight big steals, seven rebounds and six assists although it was his presence alone that kept his team from disintegrating in the face of unnerving pressure put up by the Challenge Cup runners-up.
Peter Jun Simon led Hapee with 31 points and he is expected to draw another huge game when they take on the rampaging Viva Mineral Water Force, the hottest team on the league, in the other game at 4 p.m.
Displaying steady nerves, Viva erased a 19-point third quarter deficit to turn back ICTSI, 81-73, to extend its amazing streak to five following three losses in row that kept its position at third spot behind John-O and Hapee.
And Banal sees their game against the Teeth Sparklers as an acid test for the Water Force. "Its going to be a big test, an acid test for us because everyone knows Hapee is the team to beat."