JETT Vidal had 15 points, Jhaps Bautista scored 13 and Sta. Lucia beat Jumbo Plastic, 68-62, on Wednesday night at the Marikina Sports Center to force a rubber match in the PCBL Chairman’s Cup semifinals.
Cameroonian import Landry Sanjo added nine points and 12 rebounds as the Realtors tied the series and forced a decider on Friday.
The winner of the best-of-three semifinal series will face Mighty Sports in the finals. Mighty Sports beat Euro-Med in Game Two, 98-87, to sweep the semifinal series.
The Realtors led by as many as 15 points before surviving the fourth quarter that saw them score only nine points.
Behind, 44-59, entering the fourth, Jumbo Plastic got to within three points, 65-62, on a dunk by Moustapha Arafat with 51.4 seconds to play. The Linoleum Giants, however, gave up critical offensive rebounds, allowing the Realtors to hit crucial free throws in the end game.
“Nakita ko ’yung composure ng mga bata,” said Sta. Lucia coach Ogie Gumatay.
“Gustong gusto nilang bumawi sa first game. Sabi ko sa kanila, kalimutan na natin ‘yung first game, importante marami tayong natutunan. First quarter pa lang, kita mo na sa mga bata ‘yung energy nila.”
James Martinez had 15 points for the Linoleum Giants.
Jumbo Plastic won Game One in overtime, 94-89, after losing a 19-point lead.
The scores:
Sta. Lucia 68 — Vidal 15, Bautista 13, Sanjo 9, Escosio 9, Camasura 7, Salado 5, Jamito 4, Javelona 2, Bangga 2, Gabriel 2, Ilagan 0, Castanarez 0.
Jumbo Plastic 62 — Martinez 15, Arafat 9, Taganas 9, Eguilos 8, Viernes 6, Bitoon 5, Siruma 5, Arellano 3, Lopez 2, Santos 0, Perez 0.
Quarterscores: 17-15; 44-34; 59-44; 68-62.
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