Jonadel's stuns JKT to grab Abella Cup cage title

CEBU, Philippines - Team captain Roy Lansang nailed two pressure-packed free throws with no time left to power Jonadel’s Inn & Suites of team owner Sonny Ponteras to a 77-76 cliffhanger over the previously undefeated Team JKT and win the championship of the Norvic Abella Cup Christmas basketball league the other night at the Labangon covered court.

Earlier, the RCAF of team owner Romeo Faunillan stunned DHAGZ of skipper Daks Dongon, 89-85, to settle for third place honors.

Jonadel’s led all the way and at one point took a 55-43 edge entering the final period. Team JKT, however, showed great fighting spirit to erase the deficit and even wrest the driver’s seat, 76-75, with only 10 seconds left to play.

In the ensuing sequence, Lansang was fouled while in the act of shooting, thus, he was sent to the foul line. He calmy converted his charities that came like daggers than plunged into the hearts of JKT cagers, who suffered their first and only loss in 10 games.

Lansang finished with 12 points but it was Tinong Ceros who topscored for Jonadel’s with 24 markers.

Jojo Bagares and Harris Vergara paced JKT with16 and 14 points, respectively.

Ceros was later named as the tournament MVP. He automatically made it to the Mythical Five alongside Lansang, Kintanar, Bagares and Junel Cortes.

The other individual awardees were Lansang (best guard), Cortes (best center), Bagares (best forward), Gilbert Violango (top rookie), and Alwen Tabasa (best defensive player). The Sportsmanship commendation was given to Richard Abella.   (FREEMAN NEWS)