Sunday, September 07, 2008 Eksinayn avenge 1st round loss
BRIAN Canlas and Randy Reynon combined for 29 points to repulse the skidding Miners, 66-61 to put them in solo second place in Bracket B in the ongoing Baguio Centennial Cup Basketball Invitational Tournament.
The Miners handed the second defeat for the Miners who was missing coach Felizardo Gacad and assistant coach Romeo Paloga. It now tots a three-win three-loss card, which may be a disadvantage to team when the tournament reaches the semifinals.
Only two more games are left for the Miners and both games must be won by the Gacad led team to put them in third place, allowing them a possible showdown with Eksinayn after earning their win against two defeats, one handed by the Miners itself.
The Miners took an early 8-2 lead in the first period with 4:04 remaining but Canlas was a force to reckon with leading the Eksinayn charge to put the Miners in the front two, 12-11, with 1:22 left in the opening quarter.
Miners' Bong Cachin and Alvin Santos then teamed up to gain a one point advantage at the end of the second quarter 34-33 capped by a buzzer beater courtesy Santos.
The rest of the third period was a showdown of scoring prowess having 10 lead changes with both teams answering baskets in both ends of the court.
The Miners enjoyed a one-point lead at the end of the third canto, 53-52.
Eksinayn, proving their worth in their bracket capped a 10-3 run in the fourth period to finally avenge their first round loss against the Miners, 62-55 with 5:32 remaining in the ball game.
Doddie Mendillo then unleashed a back-to-back double to pull the Miners within four, 63-59 with 3:27 remaining in the payoff period; but his efforts went to naught, as Eksinayn never lost its composure to hack out a five-point win.
Canlas led the Eksinayn with his 16-point performance while Reynon added 13 for the winning team.
Cachin lead the Miners with a 17-point output, while TJ Sibuma and Santos contributed eight points a piece. (Roderick Osis)
