Stallions turn back Buddies, lead playoff

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna , Philippines  – The Trace-Laguna Stallions needed an extra period to clip the visiting Smart-Pampanga Buddies, 84-83, to take a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five quarterfinal series of the 2009 Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference II at the Stallions’ Gym of Trace College.

Jerwin Gaco scored seven of the Stallions’ nine points in overtime to move the team to a win away from marching into the semifinal round. Game Four is set Thursday at the Holy Angel University Gym in Angeles City. If needed, Game Five will be played the following day, still at HAU.

“We will go all out to get Game Four,” said coach Nomar Isla. “We were not in our element in our Game Two loss. The players were throwing the ball away. This is a strong Pampanga team we survived tonight, thanks to our defense.”

Gaco scored the go-ahead field goal with 55 seconds left. From there, both teams failed to score, with Terrell Theophile missing the potential game-winner with five seconds to play.

Adonis Sta. Maria forced the overtime with a free throw split off a Samuel Ekwe foul with 13 seconds left in regulation.

The Stallions rushed to a 27-15 lead in the first period behind the hot hands of Gaco, Alex Angeles, Axel Doruelo and Jan Villaver.