La Trinidad, Benguet – San Jose outlasted Don Bosco in second game of a three-match week for the fifth season of the Laity Cup. The host came back from an early deficit and hacked out a 70-68 win last September 1, 2016 in their gym.
Father Roland “Junior” Ablasa knocked in 12 points while Freddie Maranes provided an immovable inside presence in the crucial stretch to give San Jose a boost and have the team pick up their first win in the tournament.
The host was trailing, 45-54, at the start of the fourth when Maranes reentered the game and established control of the paint to match Ablasa’s hot shooting as both engineer the comeback. Maranes also contributed two baskets on dishes by his teammates and another via a put back along with Ablasa’s seven points, including a three, to enable San Jose to permanently take the lead, 64-62, time down 2:41.
Ablasa and Roderick Pacuyan then made sure they would go home with the win. Ablasa connected two outside baskets, including another trey, that sandwich a twinner from Melvin Sagalen increase the lead to five, 69-64, 145 left. Don Bosco then cut the lead to just a solitary point by two freebies from Andrew Ameda and another basket from Sagalen, 1:02 left.
Both teams failed to connect on their next possessions. San Jose still had possession with about half a minute left but threw the ball away on a bad pass giving Don Bosco another crack at the basket. They, however, bungled an open lay-up, a shot that fell short, clanging on the front of the rim. San Jose got ball possession of a defensive rebound, 8 seconds left, and can just hold the ball till time expires.
Don Bosco was not yet in penalty and confusion did not allow them to issue fouls successively. They only got in their fifth team foul after intentionally fouling Pacuyan with just a second left.
Pacuyan sank the front end of two shots then promptly missed the second to set a scramble for the loss ball and the deny Don Bosco any chance at attempting the tying shot.
In the other games, Immaculate Conception of Taba-ao, Kapangan locked their first win at the expense of Nazarene School, 96-86, while the Latter Day Saints reversed an early deficit to take down the Aliance Wonders, 79-60.
The scores:
San Jose 70: Ablasa 26, Jeff Habado 8, Juvelarde Cabading 8, Maranes 8, Arnold Biadno 5, Matthew Dontogan 4, John Pardou Umaking 4, Pacuyan 2, Yen Diamsay 2, Berlynden Dao-anis 2, Mark Batolne 1, Jake Biray, Alejandro Balingan.
Don Bosco 68: Andrew Ameda 31, Melvin Sagalen 15, Artemio Luis 12, Weylon Budikey 4, Berto Balicdang 4, Orlan Oligan 2.
3pt shots made: Ablasa 4, Ameda 1, Sagalen 1.
BY: ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS.
