ANGELES CITY — Dexter Maiquez was the hero fourth seed Pampanga-ADG Group needed when the going got tough in their 2020 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan quarterfinals series against fifth-ranked 1Bataan-Camaya Coast.
With 59.2 seconds remaining on the clock, Risers’ wingman Reed Juntilla made a booming triple to put his side ahead, 78-77. Then came Maiquez and his heroics.
The 6-foot-3 bruiser forced his way into the paint on the other end. With defender Chito Jaime falling down, Maiquez banked his layup to regain the 79-78 advantage with 44.4 ticks left.
“Talagang binigay sa akin ni coach Bong ‘yung play sa akin nung timeout, kaya sabi ko ‘Sige aatakihin ko’, may go signal naman kay coach. Luckily, pumasok.”
And in the final 24 seconds of the match, the San Sebastian alum was intentionally fouled twice, easily converting all four free throws.
“Sobrang pressure, sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko, bahala na, ito naman ‘yung ineensayo ko palagi. Ginawa ko lang ‘yung normal free throw routine ko.”
With one final chance to send the game to extra time, Michael Juico rejected Juntilla’s triple, sending the Kapampangans into a frenzy.
Eventually, the Giant Lanterns escaped with an 83-80 victory over the Risers, Thursday at the AUF Gym, to march into the semifinals.
The Guagua, Pampanga native posted 19 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting clip, alongside nine rebounds, two assists, and a block.
The ADG Group-backed squad will collide against reigning champion San Juan-Go for Gold in the semifinals, after the Knights scored a 74-67 Game Two win over Pasay earlier.
Story by Justin Valencia
Photo by Nicks Hernandez
