The basket not only sparked a highly-debated issue between witnesses on Tuesday night, but lifted team Public School System-McGraw Hill over Shirley’s Coffee Shop, 88-87 in the 3rd Annual Shirley’s Invitational Basketball League at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.
Referee Arnold Mesa stood by his call that Sablan’s game-winning shot counted for three points, despite team Shirleys’ claims that 1.1 seconds wasn’t enough for a possible basket.
Sablan scored 11 of McGraw Hill’s 30 points in the final quarter to make up for a sloppy third period performance and totaled 17. James Villacrusis and Kelvin Fitial led the team’s offensive on 25 points each, scoring a combined 24 points in the second half.
Fast break plays from Sablan and Walter Mendez forced Shirley’s on its heels, slowly blowing out their nine-point lead and pushing McGraw Hill two points behind three minutes in the fourth quarter.
Shirley’s held on for a 69-70 lead and surged five points, but found another deadlock when Villacrusis tied the game, 76-76.
Down to the final seconds, Kae Bernardo and Marlon Dedios eked out two more layups to set McGraw Hill back, 85-87. Dedios trailed Villacrusis with 24 points, scoring 10 alone in the first quarter.
Bernardo, who along with the Fitial had a double-double, garnered 10 rebounds with 20 points. The 6’3” Fitial had 10 rebounds.
While some also argued that Sablan’s buzzer-beater should’ve been counted for only two points resulting in overtime, no protest was confirmed by the league’s technical officials or team Shirley’s as of Tuesday night. Scores were final.
According to Mesa, players will have to “make a dunk or tip-in shot” if there is only .2 seconds remaining on the clock. Sablan initially dribbled and was sandwiched by two Shirley’s defenders before making a fadeaway basket.
McGraw Hill propelled to four wins with one loss. Team Shirley’s continued their downward slump after a fifth consecutive loss.
Scores:
PSS-McGraw Hill 88 – J. Villacrusis 25, K. Fitial 25, D. Sablan 17, M. Cabrera 6, W. Mendez 6, M. Itibus 4, J. Villagomez 2, G. Palacios 1
Shirley’s Coffee Shop 87 – M. Dedios 24, K. Bernardo 20, J. Barrios 17, F. Sedillo 10, R. Usi 8, W. Abuel 4, J. Nicdao 2, E. Peredo 2
Quarterscores: 19-17, 39-45, 58-67, 88-87
DFS 93, Grillin’ 87
In the first game, DFS Galleria’s 31-point surge sufficed in the fourth quarter as Grillin’ fell, 93-87 for their fourth loss.
Team DFS improved their record to five wins and one loss despite Grillin’s 32-point drive in the third quarter.
DFS had earlier pulled away and outscored their opponents, 28-16 for a 50-35 lead in the first half.
An opening however, allowed James Kintz and Sonny Lerio eight points apiece in the third period.
Pete Iguel’s late-game shooting spree boosted DFS, with the lead-scorer posting 13 of the team’s 31 points.
Lerio, who settled for 21 points, came up empty in the final quarter along with Roy Hernandez.
Dan Barcinas and Jack Lizama ended DFS’ winning rally on a combined 15 points, with the duo scoring 12 and 16, respectively.
A shoddy offense from Pagarao and Kintz dried Grillin’s five point lead, leaving Iguel open for the basket.
Scores:
DFS Galleria 93 – P. Iguel 26, J. Lizama 16, W. Jung 13, D. Barcinas 12, J. Guiab 11, G. White 5, A. Chavez 4, G. Larrioza 2, R. Rivera 2, L. Ngiraikelau 2
Grillin’ 87 – S. Lerio 21, R. Ritual 17, L. Galarse 16, L. Pagarao 16, J. Kintz 10, R. Hernandez 7
Quarterscores: 22-19, 50-35, 62-67, 93-87
