CEBU, Philippines - The San Fernando Spartans caught everyone by surprise after they tamed the previously unbeaten Minglanilla, 76-73, in South Division 1 of the 2017 Cebu Governor’s Cup Under-21 Inter-Cities and Municipalities Basketball Tournament last Sunday night at the San Fernando Sports Complex.
San Fernando thus created a three-way logjam in the S1 leadership alongside Minglanilla and the Talisay City Aqua Stars with identical 3-1 win-loss records.
Shaun Keith Torquero unloaded 20 points and Ronald Alferez tossed in 15 markers spiked with a pair of crucial 3-pointers that dashed Minglanilla's comeback hopes in the windup.
Johnson Khen Saramosing scored 12, while Isidore Runjie Bamboa dropped eight of his 10 points in the first quarter as the Spartans raced to a 23-11 start. Minglanilla, however, replied with a 15-7 spurt to pull within just four points at halftime, 26-30.
San Fernando though regained its composure in the third period to preserve a dozen-point edge, 59-47, going into the final 10 minutes.
The Minglanilla cagers toiled hard at the endgame but the departure of top gunner Marc Glen Nebril on fouls early in fourth period proved too costly for them.
Nebril and Jiesel Tarrosa had 22 points each, while Sly Lucero finished with 10 points for Minglanilla.
Earlier, Talisay notched its third win by forfeiture against Sibonga, which arrived 30 minutes late in the game citing heavy traffic. (FREEMAN)