Adgers bags 19-under crown of ThreeSixty hoopla

CEBU, Philippines - Adgers Sportswear once again flirted with disaster but recovered in time to fashion out a double overtime 93-92 win over University of San Carlos/RDAK and bag the championship of the 19-under division of the ThreeSixty Pharmacy Cup 2012 at the City Sports Club Cebu yesterday.

Comfortably ahead by six, 75-69, with 12 seconds left in the game, it looked like the title was in the bag of Adgers but Michael Rita drilled a double-pump triple with 4.5 seconds left to cut the deficit down to three 75-72.

After Adgers failed to control the leather to run out the clock, John Saycon made a “Hail Mary” triple from beyond the halfcourt line to send the game into overtime at 75-all, sending the USC/RDAK team and supporters into a frenzied celebration.

The first overtime was an exchange of baskets from both sides marked by four lead changes. Mark Kong gave Adgers an 85-83 lead with 41 seconds remaining.

Matthew Parker tied the game at 85-all then had the chance to win the game for USC/RDAK as he was fouled in the process. He, however, missed the bonus free throw, sending the game into a second extension.

The second OT was just as air-tight, highlighted by another set of trading of baskets with three ties recorded.

USC/RDAK went ahead 89-87, but Adgers wrested the lead back at 91-89. Jasper Diaz tied the game at 91-all with 48.5 seconds remaining, but the seldom-used John Jeffrey Calang turned unto an unlikely hero when he tipped in the game-winning points after a missed shot by a teammate to give Adgers a 93-91 lead with 26 seconds left.

Those were ironically the only points of Calang who, along with Kevin Eboña, was called on to play in crunch time after big men Allan Dimco and Mark Kong fouled out.

Saycon went to the line for two free throws with 18.3 seconds left, but would make the first and miss the second for the final tally.

A last ditch effort to score for USC/RDAK was then foiled by a tough Adgers defense. Dimco led Adgers with 27 points while Alex Nazareno added 18.

Saycon led USC/RDAK with 26. Parker added 15. This was the Sportsmasters’ sixth straight win after losing to the Warriors in the elimination round, with the two wins in the finals wiping out the twice-to-beat advantage that USC/RDAK enjoyed.

The ThreeSixty Pharmacy Cup 2012 is the flagship tournament of the Cebu Youth Basketball League (CYBL), which is now on its fifth season. The four age-groups brought out four different champions from different schools.

USC South won the 10-under division, while Cebu Eastern College topped the 13-under. The University of the Visayas won the 16-under crown.

The scores

Adgers (69) – Dimco 27, Nazareno 18, Cuyos 15, Limalima 14, Kong 8, Pono 4, Eboña 4, Calang 2, Villarosa 1

USC/RDAK (67) – Saycon 26, Parker 15, Romaguerra 14, Diaz 10, Jaca 9, Rita 9, Guardiario 5, Senining 2, Malana 2. Quarterscores: 16-20, 37-41, 57-55, 75-all, 85-all, 93-92  (FREEMAN)