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HARBOUR CENTRE erased a huge 20-point deficit and then
watched Beau Belga miss a potential game-tying follow-up
in the dying seconds as the Port Masters nipped Hapee-Philippine
Christian University (PCU), 63-61, yesterday.
That Game Two victory at the Emilio Aguinaldo College Gym in
Manila moved the Port Masters within a win of sweeping
the Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Silver Cup Finals
series.
Showing their never-say-die attitude, the Port Masters again
leaned on the red-hot shooting of Chico Lanete and the
defensive plays of rugged Jerwin Gaco to complete one of
the PBL’s most stirring comebacks.
Lanete, also the hero in Game One, hit back-to-back
baskets—the last one a booming trey which turned out as
the game-winning basket with 60 ticks left.
That was only the first time the Port Masters took the lead
as the Teethmasters controlled the game for most of the
way before falling into poor shot selection and
successive turnovers to the horror of Hapee supporters.
The Teethmasters had four chances to turn the game around but
bungled all their shots, including a putback try by
Belga off Mark Moreño’s three-point attempt.
The Port Masters, which also won last year’s Unity Cup, go
for the sweep—and consecutive PBL titles—tomorrow in
Game Three of the best-of-five series at The Arena in
San Juan.
“I have to credit the boys for not giving up, especially
Chico,” said Harbour Centre coach Jorge Gallent. “I told
them, if
Chico
plays well, everybody follows.”
Lanete finished with 20 points on an impressive four-of-five
shooting from the three-point area. He also had two
assists, two rebounds and a steal in 27 minutes of
action, making up for the lackluster performance of star
guard JC Intal.
Intal struggled for the second straight game and was held to
just three points on one-of-seven shooting.
Harbour Centre’s defense also proved lethal as the
Teethmasters were limited to only three points in the
fourth quarter—on a triple by Ronald Bucao.
Al Vergara and Fernandez chipped in nine points each while
Gaco had eight.
Jayson Castro topscored for Hapee-PCU with 19 points.
Given up for dead after a sluggish first quarter where they
fell behind by 20 points, 28-8, the Port Masters
methodically cut Hapee’s lead behind their gritty
defensive effort, best exemplified by Gaco, Vergara and
Jonathan Fernandez.
Trailing 50-58 at the start of the fourth period, Harbour
Centre uncorked an 8-3 run capped by Gaco’s free throw
to narrow the Hapee lead to, 61-58, still
3:31 minutes remaining in the game.
Lanete’s jumper sliced the lead to one, 61-60, before
knocking in a trey to give the Port Masters the lead
with exactly a minute left in the clock.
“The win was just for us,” said Gallent. “We started bad in
the first half but we were able to catch up in the
fourth period again.”
“I made adjustment right away when we fell to a 16-point
deficit in the first quarter. Hapee had 19 transition
points in the first half, that’s why they were able to
build a huge lead. I’m glad my players picked up their
games late in the game.”
“I hope this (bad start) would not happen again in Game 3
because we want to finish the series tomorrow,” the
Harbour Centre mentor added.
The loss put for naught Hapee-PCU’s 25-of-61 clip from
the field (41 percent) compared to the Port Masters’ 35
percent (21-of-60) clip.
The Teethmasters also lost Larry Rodriguez midway through the
last period owing to a sprained left ankle. |
