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Friday, September 23, 2005
Navales sparks Valencia's shocking win over Mantawi
VALENCIA CITY -- The Valencia Golden Harvest shocked favored Mantawi Sparkling Nights with a methodical 91-84 win at the start of their quarterfinal series Wednesday in the 2005 Panasonic-NBC national championship at the packed City gym here.
Speedy playmaker Julius Navales led Mayor Jose Galario, Jr.'s Golden Harvest with a game-high 22 points behind a four-of-five three-point clip aside from dishing off five assists and grabbing two rebounds.
Navales, who was the NBC Find of the Year awardee last season, fired back-to-back triples midway through the fourth quarter that gave Valencia a 78-68 spread in the final 5:08 of play.
But the Hapee/Dewfoam-backed Sparkling Nights rallied behind Jhayson Alminario, McDonald Santos and Marvin Tundag to come within three, 80-83, in the last 57 seconds.
That was the closest Mantawi could get as Joel Gragasin and Jimmy Taligatos made the insurance free throws to preserve Valencia's win.
"We thanked the Lord for giving us this win. The team's morale is very high. We're happy to be just here in the play-offs considering we're an expansion team. But I told my players that we should not be contented," Valencia coach Arvin Martinez said.
The Sparkling Nights supported by Mandaue Mayor Thadeo "Teddy" Ouano trailed all the way and never recovered from a poor start with Valencia erupting for 31 first quarter points.
Former Holy Cross of Davao bruiser Eliazar Berami and Frank Nailon added 17 and 13 points, respectively for the sixth seed Valencia, who will gun for a sweep on Monday at the Mandaue Sports Center.
Ardy Larong paced the third seed Mantawi with 16 points, six boards and a block while Dennis Daa chipped in 14 and nine rebounds.
"It was a tough loss. Valencia played with more intensity but we'll bounce back at home," vowed Mantawi mentor Jun Noel.
The winner of this series will play the defending champion Skygo/Sirlitz-backed Tribu Sugbu in the semifinals. The Iligan Crusaders currently leads Ozamiz Cotta, 1-0, in the other semifinal series in the southern conference of the tourney supported by Panasonic, Sulpicio Lines, Sunbolt Sports Drink, Accel, Molten, Spring Cooking Oil, Nature's Spring, Far Eastern Insurance, Skygo Motorcycles, Sirlitz Solutions Provider, Hapee Toothpaste, Dewfoam, KSK Food Products (Boy Bawang), Bayview Park Hotel and Holiday Plaza-Cebu. NBC games are aired over National Broadcasting Network 4pm every Sundays and replays is shown over Prime Channel 2pm and 8:30 pm daily.
(September 23, 2005 issue)
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