Minoy Villaruel and Vicente Armando Brigoli made sure they win it from the line.
Villaruel, captain of iComm International, and Brigoli, made pressure-packed free throws in the last minute of the game to give iComm an inspiring 53-48 victory over Western Wats.
Villaruel shattered the 48-all deadlock with two freebies then Brigoli made three of his four for the final tally.
“I felt the pressure looking at the score but I thought I was in the same situations before. So I thought I could make at least one not until I remember our pre-game briefing. The game is for Coach Armand, the team is 1-4, the bench was shouting, ‘nice Cap, water break’ and then the burden got heavier. Whew, I can’t let everyone down. I let it go with a prayer and made so,” recalled Villaruel after the game.
For the second straight game, Coach Armand Colina’s charges used solid defense to stop their rivals. iComm allowed Western Wats a solitary basket in the last 2:30 of the game for its second win, after six tries, in the inter-call center basketball tournament at City Sports.
iComm started the game hot as Brigoli, Padernal and Villaruel conspired to give their team a 14-8 first quarter lead. In the second quarter, Canada and Marquez joined the scoring spree as iComm took the half 26-17.
Western Wats made a run in the third quarter. With Rivera, Tomakin, Alonzo and Blanco hitting their shots, Western Wats outscored iComm 17-14 to come within 34-39.
iComm started tentatively in the fourth quarter and missed some easy fast break layups allowing Western Wats to claw back into the game. Again, with Rivera on the firing end, Western Wats came within 44-45 and finally took the lead 46-45, with less then three minutes left.
Western Wats took its first lead 48-46 with 2:30 in the game, but was shut down by iComm’s defense. Villaruel and Brigoli then took over the game.
iComm had a double celebration after its players Bart Buenaventura and Orven Enoveso won the 2-Ball Shootout during the Inter-Call Center All-Star Saturday at the City Sports gym. Buenaventura and Enoveso edged Flore and Paraguya of Calltek 31-30 in the final.
The other individual winners during the All-Star Saturday were Villahermosa of Teletech (3-pt shootout) and Lauro of Western Wats 1 (free throw shooting).
In the All-Star game, Group I walloped Group 2, 75-55 behind the guns of Franco Cipriano, who had 11 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and one steal. The sterling performance earned Franco Cipriano (eTelecare) the All-Star Game MVP trophy.
The scores:
iComm (53) – Padernal 15, Brigoli 13, Villaruel 10, Marquez 6, Canada 5, Buenaventura 2, Godoy 2, Enoveso 0, Dacuba 0, Corbo 0, Orillaneda 0, Quitor 0, Paner 0, Bergantin 0, Montoya 0
Western Wats (48) – Rivera 14, Alonzo 9, Tomakin 7, Blanco 6, Tomakin 5, Poquita 4, Alinson 2, Campaña 1, Impok 0, Lauro 0, Gabotin 0, Dela Serna 0, Reambonanza 0, Mantese 0
Quarterscores: 14-8, 26-17, 39-34, 53-48 (RBO)