Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Billy Robles saves the day as Davao Occidental stuns San Juan in MPBL Finals Game One


SUBIC — With just a day to prepare, Davao Occidental-Cocolife banked on their painful memory of last season’s finals to draw first blood in the best-of-five Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan National Finals.

The Tigers needed three game-changing free throws from Mark Yee and a huge defensive stop by Billy Robles to escape San Juan-Go for Gold in overtime, 77-75, to take Game One, Wednesday at the Subic Bay Gymnasium here.

Trailing 70-74, the defending champions went on a quick 5-0 run capped by Mike Ayonayon’s alley-oop layup off a CJ Isit inbound to take the lead with 48.4 ticks left, 75-74.

In the ensuing play, Davao committed a costly shotclock violation after Yee’s shot hit nothing, giving the Knights the possession with 24.2 seconds.

However, John Wilson turned the ball over in the next play as Yee recovered the loose ball and got fouled. The 39-year-old calmly sank his freebies to regain the lead, 76-75, with 19.3 ticks remaining.

Then the biggest defensive play of the game happened as Ayonayon skied for a layup but was erased by Billy Robles.

Yee split his two shots at the charity stripe with 2.7 ticks left. But with no timeouts left, Orlan Wamar’s outlet pass off the inbound was caught by Tiger Emman Calo to secure the victory.

“This just shows the character of our team. We don’t give up. Siyempre playing with San Juan, it’s different, we kind of like (thinking about) payback,” said Davao Occidental head coach Don Dulay.

Calo led the way for Davao with 15 points, including nine in the fourth quarter where they came back from an 11-point deficit.

#ReadMore  UCBL: CEU cruises anew, downs Lyceum-Batangas by 57 pts

Yee, who was given the Manok ng Bayan post-game award, also had 15 markers of his own to go with eight rebounds, four steals, and three dimes.

Datu Cup Finals MVP Ayonayon showed up for San Juan with 27 points and five assists opposite five errors.

Wilson also contributed 15 markers on a 5-of-15 shooting clip, alongside seven rebounds, five steals, and two blocks.

Game Two will be played tomorrow, March 18, at 4PM in the same Subic arena.


The Scores:

Davao Occidental 77 – Yee 15, Calo 15, Custodio 12, Mocon 9, Robles 9, Balagtas 6, Terso 5, Saldua 2, Ludovice 2, Gaco 2, Albo 0.

San Juan 75 – Ayonayon 27, Wilson 15, Clarito 9, Rodriguez 9, Isit 4, Tajonera 3, Gabawan 2, Estrella 2, Pelayo 2, Reyes 2, Wamar 0, Aquino 0.

Quarterscores: 15-15, 30-30, 43-49, 68-68, 77-75.

Written By

Just a kid from Cavite trying to make a difference.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Pampanga dominated South Cotabato, 93-75, on Tuesday night, securing the 2024 MPBL Preseason Invitational title at the Lagao Gym in General Santos City. Fueled...

Basketball

De La Salle University parted ways with one of its future foundations on Monday evening. Multiple sources closely monitoring the situation confirmed to Tiebreaker...

Basketball

Going through an exodus, a nightmare losing streak, before taking on the top-ranked Mapua University, no one expected San Beda University to win it...

Basketball

For the first time in the NCAA Season 99 Seniors Basketball Tournament, San Beda University found itself on the winning end of a bout...

Basketball

Magnolia finished strongly to beat Blackwater, 105-84, and stay perfect in the PBA Season 48 Commissioner’s Cup, Wednesday night at the Philsports Arena. The...

Basketball

Mapua University is just one win away from ending 32 years of tears, heartbreaks, and misery. The top-seeded Cardinals, backstopped by a breakout outing...

Basketball

It felt like home sweet home for Nueva Ecija, which secured a victory in front of its local fans in the Pilipinas Super League...

Basketball

On Tuesday afternoon, the College of Saint Benilde’s revenge tour came to a screeching halt as they fell in the final four of the...

Advertisement