The Liquid Power, playing with a lot of patience and resiliency, outlasted the Welcoat Paint Masters, 84-80, in a double-overtime duel to even things up after two games of their PBL Platinum Cup best-of-five title showdown at the San Juan gym yesterday.
Jun Peter Simon bounced back strong from his mediocre showing the last time, unleashing a monster game that included key plays that clinched their heart-stopping victory.
Simon figured in a virtual one-on-one showdown with Jojo Tangkay, firing 26 points as against the Welcoat forward’s 25. The Makilala, North Cotabato youth had the last laugh as he bailed Fash out of trouble much to the delight of their supporters and his future Purefoods Hotdogs teammates who watched in the gallery.
The Liquid Power blew an opportunity to win the game in the first overtime on a big defensive lapse, enabling Paul Artadi to grab the rebound on his own free-throw miss then kicking up the ball to Tangkay who launched a game-tying three-pointer at the buzzer.
Earlier, Rich Alvarez muffed a free throw that could have decided the outcome of the game right in regulation period.
But Fash just won’t be denied of the win, showing great guts, spunk and staying power as they rebounded from their sorry loss in the series opener Thursday at the Makati Coliseum.
The series shifts over to the Pasig Sports Center with Game Three Tuesday.
"The boys just never gave up and fought hard to the finish," said Fash coach Junel Baculi.
"I have to commend Simon. He’s our gladiator tonight," said Baculi of his prized shooting guard.
Simon stood out in the contest even as the team got a big lift from role players Francis Mercado and Larry Fonacier.
Mercado, a forward out of San Beda, scored all of his six points in Fash’s 11-2 windup. Fonacier, a swingman from Ateneo, on the other hand, made his presence felt on the defensive end when Welcoat was threatening to pull away in the third quarter.
"We had our chances to put the game away but we blew it. So we’re back to square one," said Welcoat coach Leo Austria.