Norwood carves out Hapee’s opening win

Gabe Norwood outshone fellow Fil-Am Sol Mercado as Hapee Toothpaste edged the threepeat-seeking Harbour Centre side, 72-69,  in Game One of the PBL V-Go Energy Drink Cup final at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum yesterday.

Norwood produced 12 rebounds, 11 points, seven assists, two blocks and one steal in a sterling all-around game, keeping Hapee intact in the face of Harbour Centre’s tough challenge.

Reed Juntilla and Mark Borboran had significant contributions as the Complete Protectors preserved their unbeaten run and moved a win shy of completing a grand sweep.

The Complete Protectors go for the crown in Game Two tomorrow at the same venue.

“The desire to win was there,” said Hapee coach Jun Noel.

Mercado had the chance to put one over Norwood but muffed two foul shots with 2.3 seconds to go as the Batang Pier suffered a third loss in the tourney – all against the Complete Protectors.

The Biola U product was obviously slowed down by a sprained left ankle he sustained late in the first half. He finished with only 10 points, six below his average.

Down by four at 66-70, Harbour Centre threatened to steal the game following a triple by Benedict Fernandez then a defensive gem by TY Tang on Juntilla in the next play.

The Batang Pier went to Mercado in their final play.

Mercado drew a foul from Larry Rodriguez for two foul shots with 2.3 seconds left. Alas, the Fil-Am player succumbed to pressure, missing both.

With Hapee down 4-10 at the start, Norwood fuelled a 12-0 blitz with a pair of booming triples as the Complete Protectors seized a 16-10 advantage.

But the Batang Pier toughened up on defense in the second quarter, holding the Complete Protectors down to six points, to grab the upperhand, 37-28, at the turn.

Tang, a former a La Salle standout, capped the first-half scoring with a triple at the buzzer.

Earlier, Toyota Balintawak walloped San Mig Coffee,

88-77, in their one-game playoff for third place.