Saquilayan’s trey wins it for Hapee

Mark Saquilayan buried a triple in the closing seconds and Hapee Toothpaste escaped with a 66-63 win over Ana Freezers yesterday in the PBL Challenge Cup at the Makati Coliseum.

The play wasn’t actually meant for Saquilayan but with the time ticking to its final seconds, the six-foot forward out of University of Manila took the matter into his hands and went on to lift the Teeth Sparklers to the pulsating triumph.

Finding an accidental hero in Saquilayan, Hapee Toothpaste settled an old score with Ana while giving new coach Stevenson Tiu a rousing debut in the league.

"We’re very happy because we wanted to get back at Ana. It’s the team which eliminated us in the first conference," said Tiu.

Eugene Bantugan was Tiu’s first option for their last play but, covered well by the Ana double-teaming defense, the former Cagayan de Oro Amigo in the MBA kicked the ball out to Alwyn Espiritu who then swung the ball to Saquilayan atop the key.

Saquilayan then fired away and punched the air with his right fist with his shot going in.

Espiritu paced Hapee with 14 points while UST teammate Marvin Ortiguerra led Ana with 24. Saquilayan wound up with eight points.