PAGADIAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR—Julz Julkipli buried the game-winning stickback as Basilan BRT played spoiler on Zamboanga Sibugay, 75-73, on the last day of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge eliminations at the Pagadian City Gymnasium here, Friday.
The Peace Riders opened the fourth period with a huge 17-4 blitz to turn a 53-55 deficit to a 70-59 advantage with 5:08 remaining on the clock.
However, Zamboanga Sibugay countered with an 11-1 blast, topped by Shaq Imperial’s booming trey from the right corner, to inch within one with 2:10 left, 70-71.
Dennis Daa scored on a jumper on the other end to extend Basilan’s lead to three but Michole Sorela made a corner triple off his own miss to knot the game at 73 with 31.6
In the ensuing play, Daa went for a turnaround jumper but missed. Luckily, the smallest man on the floor in Julkipli was there for the putback for the game.
The Warriors got three chances to tie or win the game but Sorela missed the first two while Imperial failed to take a shot as time expired.
“Yun ang sinasabi namin sa kanila go for the rebound parati kasi kailangan namin. Si Daa talaga option namin pero sabi namin kailangan natin ng offensive rebound,” said Basilan head coach Ron Jalmanzar.
Daa tallied 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go with four rebounds to lead the Peace Riders to a 5-7 record at sixth place and will face the eventual third seed.
Jorem Morada had 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while JC Luciano was named Chooks-to-Go Manok ng Bayan Player of the Game for his 8-point 13-rebounds performance.
Zamboanga Sibugay fell to 6-6 for fifth place. It now hopes that Globalport-MisOr wins later against Roxas to take the fourth spot and a twice-to-beat edge in the playoffs.
Jan Jamon paced the Warriors with 13 points on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc, while Imperial chalked up 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals against four turnovers.
Rhaffy Octobre made 10 points but went 4-of-15 from the field.
The quarterfinals begin tomorrow starting at 2 pm.
The Scores:
Basilan 75 – Daa 19, Morada 10, Soliva 8, Luciano 8, Solis 7, Panganiban 5, Royo 5, Butalid 4, Albina 3, Julkipli 3, Lunor 3, Bulac 0, Cadiz 0, Ansaldo 0.
Zamboanga SIbugay 73 – Jamon 13, Imperial 11, Octobre 10, Sorela 9, Dumapig 9, Mantilla 7, Tayongtong 7, Arong 5, Bangcoyan 2, Albrecht 0, Acain 0, Lacastesantos 0, Caunan 0.
Quarterscores: 17-16, 36-32, 53-55, 75-73.
