Blu Star streaks past ICTSI; Hapee stays unbeaten

Eric de la Cuesta drilled in a triple and a jumper in the closing seconds then dished off a crucial pass to Randy Lopez at the buzzer as Blu Star snatched a 61-60 victory from ICTSI yesterday in the Luzon division of the Sunkist-PBL Unity Cup at the San Juan gym.

The 6’4 Lopez, who finished with seven points, seven rebounds and two assists, banged in the go-ahead basket in the last 2.7 seconds, lifting Detergent Kings to their third victory in four games, the same record by idle John-O.

The ICTSI Archers suffered their second defeat in four games.

Hapee Toothpaste blasted Welcoat, 75-62, later in the day to keep the solo lead with a 4-0 slate.

"Suwerte talaga, nagkataong siya yung nandoon for the winning basket. I should also credit the boys for not giving up six points down in the final minute," said Blu coach Leo Austria.

ICTSI was up 60-54 following Bernzon Franco’s freethrows off Tristan Codamon with 1:31 remaining.

But De la Cuesta kept Blu’s hopes alive with a trey and a jumper to trim the gap to 59-60 with 29.2 seconds left.

Dominic Uy, one of the league’s consistent freethrow shooters, uncharacteristically muffed both charities off John Paul Prior in the last 16.9 seconds. In the last Blu offensive, De la Cuesta, already out to launch a three-point attempt, found an open Lopez underneath with the latter responding by knocking in the winning basket.

De la Cuesta topped Blu with 16 points, including four treys, eight rebounds, six assists and four steals.