Shock-troopers Allan Gamboa, Edwin Asoro and Jonathan Fernandez rose to the occasion, helping Chico Lanete complete Harbour Centre’s comeback from 1-2 down in the series and gain the right to challenge Hapee Toothpaste-PCU for the PBL Silver Cup championship.
Before a good weekend crowd at the Olivarez Sports Center, Lanete fired 22 points including 18 in the final quarter while Gamboa, Asoro and Fernandez combined for 51 points.
Gamboa, an eight-year PBL veteran, also made 18 in the payoff period.
"The bench stepped up. The NU boys (Asoro and Fernandez) and Allan did a great job," said Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent, hoping to steer the Mikee Romero-owned franchise to its second straight crown after topping last year’s Unity Cup.
Game 1 of the best-of-five finals is on Tuesday in the same venue with Games 2 and 3 set Thursday and Saturday at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym and The Arena in San Juan, respectively.
Game 4 and 5, if necessary, are scheduled Feb. 19 and 21.
Marvin Cruz, a dark horse MVP candidate, logged 15 points, seven assists, three rebounds and a steal but couldn’t shake off his defenders at crunch time.
Still, the Sparks put up a decent fight before bowing out.
"I have to give it to coach Louie Alas for making his team a contender. I have high respect for him," said Gallent.
The Port Masters built momentum on their fourth-quarter surge on three-pointers by Asoro and Fernandez.
Lanete, held to just four points in the first three quarters, then took over, sustaining the Harbour Centre charge at the finish.
"He’s our version of Marvin Cruz. When Chico plays well, the team follows," said Gallent of Lanete.
With Gamboa at the forefront of their attack early on, the Port
Masters led by nine points in the second quarter before the Sparks came roaring back with a big third quarter to knot the count at 55-all.