Cruz keys Ateneo win over Montana

Celino Cruz accomplished what he failed to do in regulation, delivering the points that mattered most in overtime as Ateneo-Hapee Toothpaste turned back Montana Pawnshop, 71-65, yesterday in the PBL Chairman’s Cup at the Pasig Sports Complex.

Cruz, a veteran out of Far Eastern University, exploded with seven of his team’s 11 points in overtime including four of their last six markers that gave the Blue Eagles a share of the lead with the ICTSI La SAlle Archers with a 7-3 win-loss slate.

It was also Cruz, picked in this year’s PBA rookie draft but was never signed up, who sparked a blistering run that lifted Ateneo from a 43-55 fourth quarter deficit to a 60-58 lead going into the final minute and a half in regulation.

Cruz, however, muffed two important free throws with less than a second to go that could have sealed the win outright, enabling the Jewellers to force an extra period on a difficult lay-up by Steve Marucot.

Montana had thing under control in the first three quarters, leading by as many as 15 points before its offense soured up in the final period when it shot a poor two-of-18 from the field that gave Ateneo the momentum to come back. — Joey Villar