Spring Oil, Pampanga claim overtime thrillers

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Spring Cooking Oil-Bulacan and host Pampanga Bulls both steadied in the overtime period to stop Forward Taguig and MayniLA, respectively, in the National Basketball League (NBL) national championship Sunday at the Gov. Bren Guiao Convention Center here.

Mario Reyes knocked in two free throws in the last 1.6 seconds to lift the Cooking Oil Masters past the Taguig cagers, 90-89, while Billy Bansil, Dave Bautista and Elbert Alberto uncorked a 10-3 run to power the Bulls over the MayniLA squad, 87-82.

Idle M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala of Cebu reclaimed the lead at 5-1, as MayniLA suffered its second loss in nine games while Taguig dropped to third at 4-3.

Spring looked on the way to an easy win when it led 72-61 after three quarters. But Miko Roldan sparked a big Taguig comeback that forced the game into extension at 82.

MayniLA had a chance to win in regulation but with the score tied at 72, Mike Buendia flubbed an undergoal stab with 17 seconds left, enabling the Bulls to extend the match.

Bansil and Bautista shared game MVP honors for the Bulls while Jay Lapinid was Spring’s best performer in the other match of the tourney supported by Tanduay Rhum, Air Philippines, Cebu Ferries, Nature’s Spring Drinking Water, Supercat, BJ Star Logistics, Panasonic, Sinners and Saints, The Freeman, Jaguar KTV, Gatorade and Molten Basketballs.