GIVEN a new lease on life, the Quezon Huskers hope to complete their recovery when they tackle the Batangas City Tanduay Rum Masters in a Game Three decider for the South Division crown at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Sixth Season at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City.
Jason Opiso scored on a putback with 1.9 seconds left to lift the Huskers past the Rum Masters, 65-64, in Game Two at a packed Batangas City Coliseum on Tuesday and level the South Division finals at 1-1.
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The game-winner came after Judel Fuentes missed a jumper, completing the Huskers' comeback, sparked by LJ Gonzales, from a 56-64 deficit with 1 minute and 58 seconds left.
Gonzales bunched seven points before Opisos' tip-in. He finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 1 steal and 1 assist.
Other Huskers who delivered for coach Eric Gonzales were Fuentes, who managed 15 points despite making only three of 20 field goal tries plus 4 rebounds and 3 assists, Ximone Sandagon with 8 points plus 14 rebounds and Rodel Gravera with 8 points plus 4 rebounds.
Batangas, which erected a 57-47 spread with 6 minutes and 58 seconds to go, got 18 points plus 4 rebounds from Levi Hernandez, 15 points plus 6 rebounds from Jong Baloria, who bunched seven points for a 64-56 lead with 2 minutes and 5 seconds left, and 6 points plus 11 rebounds from John Ambulodto.
The Rum Masters still led, 64-63, with only 10.8 seconds remaining but Baloria turned the ball over after receiving the inbound.
Batangas held the lead for 32 minutes and 46 seconds against Quezon, which took control for only 1 minute and 13 seconds.
In Game Three, Gonzales is again expected to lean on LJ Gonzales, Fuentes, Sandagon, Opiso, Mon Abundo and Gab Banal.
Batangas oach Cholo Villanueva will bank on Hernandez, Baloria, CJ Isit, Cedrick Ablaza, Dawn Ochea, Mark Cruz and Jeckster Apinan.
With Hernandez drilling in two triples, Batangas scored 10 points against Quezon's two to surge ahead, 30-24, with 6:15 left in the second quarter.
The Huskers, however, clustered 7 points and knotted the halftime count at 34.
Batangas took Game One, 75-69, on Nov. 9 at the Lucena Convention Center.
The winner between Batangas and Quezon will advance to the National Finals against North Division champion Pampanga. The best-of-five series will begin with Game One and Game Two on Dec. 1 and. 3 in Dubai, UAE.
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