Compton, a wounded Tiger, keys win

Alex Compton bucked an ankle injury to fire 18 points, including four triples as Sunkist-UST stunned fancied Hapee, 69-66, yesterday in the second PBL Unity Cup at the Pasig Sports Center.

Compton twisted his left ankle in the team’s practice Monday but the injury failed to slow down the sweet-shooting American guard, whose game-long brilliance helped power the Tigers to their third straight victory.

Welcoat matched that record by beating Viva-FEU, 89-80, in the other game. The Tams reeled to their first setback after winning their first two games.

"I don’t know what happened, he just came into this game and said he really wanted to play despite spraining his left ankle yesterday (Monday)," said Sunkist coach Nel Parado.

"He’s just amazing, he’s truly leading by example," he added.

Compton actually poured all his output in the first three period and was held scoreless in the final period when the Teeth Sparklers employed a double-triple teaming defense on him.

That enabled his teammates to go for open shots with Ronald Capati and Melchor Latoreno stepping up to fire four points a piece and hold off the rallying Teeth Sparklers.

But Compton didn’t only shine in offense but on the defensive end as well as he hounded Mark Macapagal in his game-tying three-point bid at the buzzer.

"Gusto ko talagang maglaro. Ginawa ko lang kung ano ang dapat kong gawin," said Compton.

Allen Patrimonio, formerly of Welcoat, also came up with a solid game with 13 points while hauling down five rebounds. Latoreno and Capati combined for 11 points.

Macapagal led all scorers with 23 points but he failed to knocked in the shots that mattered most as Hapee, which seeking a third straight title, fell to its first setback against two triumphs.