Thursday, August 21, 2008 Miners downs Niners for first win By Roderick Osis
TJ SIBUMA’s timely three point shots in the second half pulled the Miners to their first win, 78 -59, Tuesday night at the ongoing Baguio Centennial Basketball Tournament.
After being down by nine, 35-44, with 5:08 remaining in the third quarter, Sibuma fired a clutch trey from the left corner to catapult a 20–6 run by the Miners to end the quarter leading by five, 55-50.
Center's Bobby Bio and Dodie Mendillo were also instrumental in the third period run, scoring inside the paint to reverse the outcome of the game in favor of the Miners against the young Eksinayn.
"The guys just went out to play tonight with their hearts and we're just simply lucky because our shot were going in, unlike in our first game were we shot terribly," Miners Coach Felizardo Gacad said lauding the efforts of his team.
It was a veteran against rookie game after the Niners played their run and game. Their trapping defense almost put the game away against the older Miners team.
But veterans Mike Viduya and Alvin Santos played mind games against the young Eksinayn to tie the ball game at 50 with 34 seconds left in the first half.
The Miners then pulled away in the pay off period leading by as much as 12, 65–53, to halt the Niners.
Eksinayn's Dean Ballesca meanwhile carried the load for the team as it sparked a late fourth quarter run but his efforts just went to naught as time expired.
The Miners paraded former SKY cable stalwarts Rudy Vergara who is playing in his second game while Jeff Sabado debuted for the winning team.
Vergara was taken out of the game midway in the third after injuring his left knee due to a collision against a Niner's player.
