Forward Taguig marches on to NBL finals

CEBU CITY — Forward Taguig swept its best-of-three semifinals against Pampanga to capture the first finals seat while Compak Shineway-Ozamiz City bounced back against M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala Cebu yesterday in the semifinals of the first NBL National Championship at the New Cebu Coliseum here.

Chris Quimpo sizzled with 18 points while Erwin Sta. Maria added 16 as Forward Taguig unleashed a decisive 15-4 third quarter blast to turn back Pampanga, 81-70, and assure itself of the best-of-three championship series.

Compak-Shineway pulled a heartstopping 76-75 thriller against M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala behind Jerry Jaca and Milfred Sampilo who scored 15 points apiece to forge the deciding Game Three for the last finals berth in this tournament sponsored by Tanduay Rhum, Air Philippines, PCSO, Panasonic, Burlington, Cebu Ferries, SuperCat, Gatorade, Nature’s Spring Drinking Water, BJ Star Logistics, The Freeman, Sinners and Saints, Jaguar KTV and Molten Basketball and telecast over IBC-13 through the facilities of Silverstar Commu-nications Inc. with replays over Destiny’s Prime Channel 61.

"Hirap kasi ang M. Lhuillier sa sona, then nag-click yung trapping namin kaya nakalusot kami sa endgame," said Compak-Shineway-Ozamiz coach Francis Rodriguez.

Actually, Taguig was down 44-50 with four minutes gone in the second half when Robin Mendoza and Kim Macanig connived for the pivotal spurt that wrested the upperhand at 59-54, 2:04 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bulls stayed within distance, 62-66, on a trey by VJ Santos but Sta. Maria and Leo Vilar waxed hot in the ensuing play and kept Taguig afloat, 81-69, with 36 seconds to go.

The Cebuanos held the rivals scoreless in the first six minutes of the third quarter behind Ruben de la Rosa and Woodraw Enriquez to wrest the lead, 55-48, but Ozamiz caught fire in the final period behind Jaca, Sampilo and Chris Ferraren to regain control, 70-69, with 2:54 left in the game.

Bruce Dacia drilled in two freethrows off Orly Alvarado to install M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu back on top, 71-70, with 2:40 remaining. However, that turned out to be their last taste of the upperhand.

Compak Shineway’s trapping defense held the rivals to just a freethrow in the ensuing play as Jaca, Sampilo and Jayman Misola erected a 76-72 lead in the last 23.7 seconds.

De la Rosa split his charities while Arnold Rodriguez went two-for-two to keep M. Lhuillier’s hopes alive, 75-76, with 7.1 ticks to go.

But that turned out to be the final tally as the Cebuanos muffed three crucial attempts in the dying seconds.

The scores:

Forward Taguig 81 — Quimpo 18, Sta. Maria 16, Mendoza 11, Roldan 9, Vilar 8, Robillos 7, Macanig 7, Bernardino 2, Nuqui 2, Go-Bon 1, Dais 0.

Pampanga Bulls 70 — Alberto 13, Garcia 10, Duyag 8, Tolentino 8, Bansil 8, Manalac 8, Santos 8, Tadeo 7. Coronel 0.

Quarterscores: 21-24; 37-42; 61-57; 81-70

Second game

Compak Shineway-Ozamiz 76 — Jaca 15, Sampilo 15, Alvarado 11, Ferraren 10, Guerrero 9, Misola 8, Cabrera 6, Libatog 2, Cabigkis 0, Mejia 0.

M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu 75 — De la Rosa 15, Enriquez 12, Manigo 8, Smith 8, Rodriguez 8, Dacia 7, Aying 5, Lumantas 5, Arano 3, Ocanada 2, Caputolan 2, Canoneo 0, Cantona 0.

Quarterscores: 27-22; 48-43; 57-60; 76-75