The game drew a huge crowd to witness which of the teams will taste first defeat.
Hyatt stunned IT&E with an early bombing campaign as Bernard Aquino and Ronald Delos Reyes poured eight and seven points respectively in the first quarter.
Both teams gave each other a narrow path ahead resulting to 90 total fouls called that sent all the first batch players to the bench for good.
Hyatt however managed to defend its lead towards the last 16 seconds. Ray Lizama scattered 30 points in the court.
At this point, Ernie “Junior Rengull” Fernandez sank a penalty shot to give IT&E a 90-89 lead.
With time dwindling away, Hyatt’s Nate Mateo barreled his way through IT&E’s towering defense and went for a lay up. He did not make it but picked up a foul that sent him to the free throw line where, filling the gym with tension, sank the first shot to tie the game, 90-90.
That second shot could have ended the game but he missed the second shot but left IT&E no time to go for it. It gave the crowd an extended excitement though, with an extra period.
During the over time, Fernandez kept IT&E in the game scoring nine points.
Chris Arreza rampaged with two consecutive two-pointers plus two successful free-throws to pull Hyatt away and Nate Mateo continued the surge to help secure their 112-100 win.
Hyatt’s playing coach Ray Lizama having his first organized game after a long rest from basketball carried the team as he poured in 30 points before he was fouled out.
It showed that the playing coach made it sure he delivered the shots they needed whenever IT&E makes a comeback.
Aquino chipped 16 points.
Darwin Barbo was the leading scorer for IT&E firing 34 points and Ernie Fernandez added 27 points.
Despite a leg injury, Edsel Mendoza managed to put in 10 points.
Jeff Cloud fired 20 markers to hand Commonwealth Ports Authority its third win against Customs, 87-42.
KC Yangilmao backed Cloud up with 38 points to lead CPA’s surge.
Ray Lizama scored 12 points for Customs.
Scores:
Hyatt 112 – R. Lizama 30, B. Aquino 16, R. Delos Reyes 15, C. Arreza 14, J. De Guzman 9, D. Sablan 9, N. Mateo 7, M. Umali 4, Y. Gabaldon 2, R. Vargas 2, E. Mendoza 2.
IT&E 100 – D. Barbo 34, E. Fernandez 27, B. Berline 13, E. Mendoza 10, E. Esderelon 10, J. Tumaquip 4, R. Deleon 2.
Quarterscores: 25-15, 49-41, 66-57, 112-100
CPA 87 –J. Cloud 20, K. Yangilmao 18, K. Schuler 16, E. Diaz 15, J. Aaron 8, D. Sasamoto 5, R. Borja 5.
Customs 42 – R. Lizama 12, R. Rosario 6, J. Maratita 4, S. Santos 3, L. Reyes 3, Ja. Sablan 3, J. Cepeda 3, JP. Sablan 2, J. Lizama 2.
Quarterscores: 18-6, 39-15, 61-29, 87-42
Games today: MBI vs PSS; Customs vs Tinian
