Nano Alvarado and Justine Disquitado combined in the endgame to carry debuting Bagong Cabuyao Homelab Nation to a 72-71 Houdini over Nueva Ecija on Monday night in the Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the Central Recreational Facility in New Era, Quezon City.
An Alvarado layup shattered the game’s final deadlock 71-69 with 28 seconds to go before Disquitado hit a free throw that made it 72-69 20 seconds later.
The Slashers’ Daniel De Guzman scored on a putback off a Jerick Nacpil missed three-point try at the buzzer but that proved to be not enough as Nueva Ecija failed to notch a follow-up to a 79-72 win over Cagayan de Oro-PSP last Thursday and fell to 2-3.
Paolo Pontejos sparkled with 19 points, on top of three rebounds and four assists for Cabuyao, while Joel Jolangcob chipped in 10 markers, three boards, and two dimes.
Sancho Vitug also had 10 points and 10 caroms to gift Cabuyao coach and PBA great Jerry Codiñera a big opening game triumph in the tourney presented by Dumper party-list, Winzir, SCD Cosmetics, and Converge and supported by Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton.
In the other game, 1Munti tripped Quezon City 81-73 in a battle of debuting squads.
RJ Ramirez led the Emeralds with 18 points, while John Cantimbuhan added 14 markers and two rebounds.
Domark Matillano and Mel Mabigat also combined for 23 points for Muntinlupa.
Airohn Acop paced the Slashers with 18 points, while Nacpil had 16 and seven.
Former PBA forward Mac Baracael scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Beacons, while Monbert Arong added 11 markers.
JK Casiño and Jan Jamon also got 10 points each for Quezon City.
Pampanga Royce Hotel seeks a second win in as many outings when it takes on San Pedro Laguna ARS at 6 p.m. today, Wednesday, also at the Central Recreational Facility.
Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan faces 1Munti in the nightcap at 8:00 PM.
The Scores
First game
BAGONG CABUYAO HOMELAB NATION 72 – Pontejos 19, Jolangcob 10, Vitug 10, Disquitado 7, Alvarado 6, Abarcar 5, Barnedo 5, Cadua 4, Cenita 4, Codiñera 2, Capara 0, Diego 0, Ilad 0.
NUEVA ECIJA 71 – Acop 18, Nacpil 16, Bautista 8, Ingel 6, Torrado 6, Mag-isa 5, Yuzon 4, De Guzman 3, Jejillos 2, Pascual 2, Mancao 1, Ingusan 0, Mallari 0, Tolentino 0.
Quarters: 23-14, 42-30, 62-50, 72-71.
Second game
1MUNTI 81 – Ramirez 18, Cantimbuhan 14, Matillano 13, Mabigat 10, Camacho 6, Alves 4, Galit 4, Basco 3, Alano 2, Arboleda 2, Quinto 2, Pasia 2, Sarmiento 1.
QUEZON CITY 73 – Baracael 16, Arong 11, Casiño 10, Jamon 10, Lee Yu 9, Santos 8, Peromingan 4, Octobre 3, Asoro 2, Fuentes 0, Jeruta 0, Meca 0, Reyes 0.
Quarters: 19-22, 44-36, 64-49, 81-73.
