BIÑAN, LAGUNA -- Bicol-LCC Stores strengthened its hold of the eighth seed in the South, nipping Quezon City-WEMSAP, 89-87, Saturday in the 2019-20 Chooks-to-Go MPBL Lakan Season at the Alonte Sports Arena here.
The Volcanoes raised their win-loss card to 15-13, still the eighth seed in the tough Southern division, just 1.5 games ahead of 12-13 Cebu-Casino Ethyl Alcohol.
With one final possession to tie or take the win with 13.2 ticks left, Quezon City went to Mark Olayon as he drove to the basket and passed the ball underneath, but it was stolen by Bicol bigman Chris Lalata, who threw the ball to Ronjay Buenafe on the other end of the court to preserve the win for his team.
"Nag-gamble na kami doon, we switched everyone kahit na may tendency na magkakaroon ng mismatch, sabi ko lang recover lang agad. Sakto pagdrive ni Olayon, nandoon si Chris," Volcanoes head coach Mon Kallos on their final defensive stop.
Trailing by two at the 1:09 mark of the pivotal fourth period, Capitals' Jeff Morillo found Fidel Castro underneath for the easy reverse to knot the game at 87.
But Olayon fouled Buenafe on the other end with 48.7 seconds remaining, as the latter buried both of his freebies, which would be the eventual game-winning shots.
Bicol's three-guard combo made most of the damage with Buenafe wounding up with 22 points, Jerome Garcia tallying 16 markers and seven rebounds while Alwyn Alday getting 14 points.
Jerome Garcia tries to drive past the Capitals defense.
High-leaping Lalata provided 13 points, 10 rebounds, and four dimes while Jonathan Aldave added 11 markers.
Ryan Costelo delivered 25 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the 10-18 Capitals while Clark Derige chipped in 16 markers and 10 rebounds. Olayon just missed a triple-double with 13 points, 12 boards, and eight dimes.
The Scores:
Bicol-LCC Stores 89 - Buenafe 22, Garcia 16, Alday 14, Lalata 13, Aldave 11, Mondragon 4, Alfonso 3, Olea 3, Ongteco 2, Lao 1, Guerrero 0, Manalang 0, Gusi 0.
Quezon City-WEMSAP 87 - Costelo 25, Derige 16, Olayon 13, Castro 8, Medina 7, Sison 6, Barua 5, Atabay 3, Olea 2, Morillo 2, Gadon 0.
Quarterscores: 20-20, 38-40, 60-63, 89-87.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
