By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The Patriots buckled down to work after confusion at its bench and ambushed the Rangers, 74-71, in Game 2 of the best-of-three championship series in the 2007 Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National Gymnasium last Sunday Oct. 14.
With the win, the Patriots leveled the count at 1-1 following the Rangers’ 89-87 victory in Game 1 on Oct. 7.
It also evened-up the two teams’ head-to-head collision this year. The Patriots won over the Rangers in the first elimination round, 91-79, on Feb. 11 but the Rangers came back with a vengeance, 92-89, in the second round on May 20.
Both teams smoothly made their way to the championship series including semifinal wins over their separate foes.
The Patriots advanced by beating the Jaguars while the Rangers humbled their way against Surangel and Sons/Asian Spirit.
Surangel bagged third place honor by sweeping the Jaguars with scores of 102-94 on Oct. 7 and 99-82 on Oct. 14.
With the momentum now shifted to the Patriots, the defending champion Rangers will try to redeemed themselves after they blew an early lead in Game 2 as they failed to capitalize on the ongoing confusion on the Patriots bench while the going went tough.
Jun Bautista refused to abide his coaches instruction to go back to the game when he saw that the Rangers were on the lead.
After heated arguments as the rest of the team told him that it is the most crucial part of their campaign, Bautista had no option but to go back and play and by the time he started compiling points underneath the boards, the Patriots completely in control of the game and at the same time capitalize on the string of errors from Alvin Soguilon, Ronald Mamuyac, Noel Avenido, Jay Naguit, and the rest of the Rangers’ main gunners.
Bautista scored a reverse undergoal and split his two foul shots to cap a 11-2 run that established the Patriots biggest lead of the game, 52-37, with three minutes left in the third quarter.
The best the Rangers could do was to moved to within two points, 66-68, under a minute left in the game.
Big man R. Osias put on a baseline jumper after Soguilon missed from outside and Bautista scored on a fastbreak after another Rangers’ turnover for a 72-66 count with 35 tick to go.
Soguilon made two free throws in two separate occasions then Joger Supnet slipped inside with 3.4 seconds left before Soguilon beat the buzzer with a triple but the Rangers were short of time to steal the show.
Bautista finished the game with 20 points, Osias had 16 and Supnet struggled with six points.
Soguilon led the Rangers with 24.
The series thus setup a do-or-die contest when the two strongest teams this season collide for the crown.
Meanwhile, FBL Chairman Manny Kimpo of Pinoy Express extended special thanks to the PNOC, WCTC, Print Zone, Aqua, Topps Sungino, referees, Sergio Alemania (Adviser), Camille Reyes (Secretary/Treasurer), Arcie Sumampong (Print Zone), Jun Aclan (CTSI), Charmaine Reyes (student) and Pinoy Express for all the trophies.
Kimpo said the next season of the league will start in December.