Undermanned Dymons halt Tigerscribes’ streak

MANILA, Philippines – Don't underestimate the heart of a champion.

Defending champion Charlie's Dymons lived up to this mantra as they dealt the Tigerscribes their first defeat after a narrow 65-64 victory in the PSA-Smart-PSC Pakitang Gilas Basketball League WilCab Cup Season 3 Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

Playing with just six players, Bandera editor Fred Nasiad rediscovered his deadly shooting touch and hit clutch triples in the fourth quarter while Abante photographer Kevin dela Cruz made it 63-62 on a basket with under a minute remaining as the Dymons bounced back from a 68-58 loss to the San Mateo Spurs last Monday.

The Dymons, who improved to 2-2 for third place, also leaned on Manila Bulletin's Jonas Terrado, Ik Aceson, Inquirer.net's Mark Giongco and Inquirer Libre contributor Randolph Leongson to weather the absence of key players such as PBA lensman Nuki Sabio and the father-and-son tandem of playing coach Noli Cortez of Malaya and Christian Cortez.

The Tigerscribes dropped to 4-1 in the tournament presented by the Philippine Sportswriters Association, Smart and the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by PRC, Milo Best, ACCEL and Magnolia Purewater despite the scoring exploits of Inquirer's Cedelf Tupas.

In the other game, San Mateo Spurs, sponsored by Discovery Channel and Basketball Marathon, turned back guest team PSC, 66-58, behind the fourth quarter outburst of Malaya ace reporter Jerome Lagunzad.

The heroics of Lagunzad, Philstar.com's Aldo Avinante, Business Mirror's Joel Orellana and Eric Uy propelled the Spurs, mentored by The STAR's Joey Villar, to a 3-1 record for second place.