PTI basically rained four more points in the final minutes of its recent match at the Gilbert C. Ada Gym to overcome one of its formidable opponents – NMC, 94-90.
The telecommunications firm inched its way to the top of the scoreboard, and at the same time, on top of the team standings of the Inter-government/Business Basketball League, unleashing several of its power cagers to inflict some damage to the educators.
Kelvin Fitial, Edsel Mendoza, Ryan Sanciangco, and Elmer Esdrellon connected to the basket, and they were successful enough – but not without facing a tough cager from the other side.
NMC’s Mark Wallace bulldozed PTI’s zone defense, firing 47 shots, which made him the highest scorer in the game.
Note also, that Wallace is on the top four of the list of high scorers in the league.
Wallace, together with Jose Tumaquip and Jerry Diaz crafted a double-digit score for NMC.
Their combined contribution could have been sufficient to send NMC to victory, but something happened in the match that prevented the team from sealing the game in its favor.
Wallace made a series of shots in the fourth period, but ran dry after sending his team to 90 points.
His NMC teammates tried to pass the ball towards his direction but when this failed they aimed the ball to Diaz, Tumaquip, Villacrusis, and other telecom cagers.
These attempts, plus the time constraints, prevented the educators from reaching a “safe” final score, 94-90.
Thus, a mere four-point lead was enough to break the winning streak of NMC that holds a 2-1 win-lose ticket.
Not to lose heart, the Fina Sisu-based educators are still saved from falling from the winners’ bracket as it still has one more match to lose before it can rest its feet.
Scores:
PTI – 94: Mendoza – 19; Ernie Fernandez – 4; Bruce Berline – 9; Esdrellon – 16; Poland Yamada – 2; Fitial – 23; and Sanciangco – 19.
NMC – 90: Wallace – 47; Jerry Diaz – 10; Gyles Ruluked – 6; Mel Manibusan – 5; Jose Tumaquip – 12; and Joe Villacrusis – 8.
