Vincent Alves and Dwight Saguiguit connected for the game-winning alley-oop to pump life to Parañaque’s playoff chances. The Aces nipped Quezon, 93-92, in the 2021 Chooks-to-Go NBL Chairman’s Cup at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando, Pampanga on Sunday.
A layup by ArJay Dongog at the 1:13 mark of the payoff period gave the Barons a six-point lead, 92-86.
But Jielo Razon quickly answered with a booming trey on the other end to slash the deficit to half, 89-92.
Dongog then missed his shot and fouled Alves on the rebound scuffle, resulting in two freebies. The Aces man then calmly drained, 91-92, with 28 seconds to go.
In the ensuing play, it was Barons forward Alex Ramos turn to take shots from the line after he was fouled with 17 ticks left.
He, however, flunked both his attempts, leaving the door wide open for a Parañaque comeback.
Off a broken play due to the suffocating pressure defense of Quezon, Saguiguit swooped to the left-wing. He then found a wide-open Alves in the paint for the alley-oop for the win with five seconds to go.
The Barons had two attempts for the victory but the three-point attempts by Domenick Vera and Dongog both missed.
The Aces finished the eliminations at an even 5-5, sitting at seventh place with still a chance to make the post-season.
But that would now depend on the remaining games of Taguig (5-3), Quezon (5-4), and Laguna (4-5).
Razon went for 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting to go with eight rebounds and four assists.
Paolo Castro followed with 20 points. Jayboy Solis and JR Galit chimed in 13 and 10 points, respectively.
Game hero Alves had nine points and seven rebounds. He only attempted three shots from the field, going 2-of-3, none more important than his last bucket.
Baron Topeng Lagrama’s 29 points, five rebounds, and five assists went for naught, as did Dongog’s 21 points.
The Scores:
Parañaque 93 – Razon 30, Castro 20, Solis 13, Galit 10, Alves 9, Quilatan 4, Singh 3, Lucente 2, Saguiguit 2, Geronimo 0, Madera 0, Madrid 0, Olegario 0.
Quezon 92 – Lagrama 29, Dongog 21, Vera 10, Calucin 7, Garcia 7, Ramos 6, Deduyo 4, Nañez 3, Plata 3, Resurrecion 2, Tan 0, Sarona 0.
Quarterscores: 20-17, 38-34, 61-67, 93-92.
