Sports5 nips iJuander in GMA League debut

MANILA, Philippines -- Sports5 made a triumphant debut in the GMA Basketball League Season 5 with a come-from-behind 70-67 win over iJuander last Sunday at the UP-Ayala Techno Hub Gym.

Radyo PBA anchor Chiqui Reyes fired 18 points, all coming from beyond the arc, to lead Sports5 to the gut-wrenching victory while handing iJuander its first loss in two starts.

Reyes also had six rebounds and two assists including the feed to United Football League (UFL) analyst Cedelf Tupas for the layup that gave them the lead, 68-67, with under a minute left to complete their fightback from 11 points down in the third quarter.

UFL Production Team Executive Director Nic Earnshaw sealed the win for the guest team with a jumper in the dying seconds as iJuander faded down the stretch.

Three more players scored in double figures for Sports5 with Earnshaw, Sports360 Executive Producer Chu Villar and TV5 courtside host and writer Jutt Sulit finishing with 16,12 and 11.

Bert Buenafe paced iJuander with 14 points while Paulo Armenta (13 points, 17 rebounds) and Michael Canaba (12 points, 12 rebounds) dished out monster games that went for naught.

Meanwhile, Alisto leaned on Carl Sanchez for the winning basket off a pick and pop play with veteran Nino Bautista to score a nail-biting 67-66 win over RMHS '94.

In the other games, PPL nipped guest team East Bay Pitbulls, 74-70, behind the 18 points and 17 rebounds of Season 3 MVP Carlo Gonzalez while JC Tiuseco and Neil Sese more than made up for the absence of Mikael Daez to turn back BJFC, 53-51,in the tournament presented by SPJ Fried Chicken and AND1.