SAN Francisco avoided an end-game collapse thanks to the steady shooting of Kenny Rogers Rucacorva, while Consolacion failed to protect its lead late in an action-packed Game 3 that saw the Camotes-based team winning, 71-70.
San Francisco won the North Division title, 2-1, ousting last year’s finalist in the process. They will face South Division champion Talisay City in the best-of-three finals series starting on Monday.
Talisay City will host the first game, while San Francisco will host the second. If the series goes to a Game 3, it will be played in a neutral venue.
Ahead by one, 70-69, Consolacion failed to convert on two tries and inexplicably rushed a shot instead of wasting time when they got the rebound off their first miss.
San Francisco collected the rebound in their second miss and Rucacorva fished a foul off a dribble penetration with seven seconds left.
He drilled the first to tie the match, eliciting a loud cheer from the pro-San Francisco section of the crowd. He egged them to scream some more before taking the second free throw.
The crowd screamed some more as Consolacion, which was looking at a return trip to the finals moments earlier, sued for time to salvage their campaign.
“No foul! No foul!” Rucacorva screamed at his teammates as they took the court one final time and forced Consolacion to a poorly taken shot to seal their victory.
“Our defensive rotation worked well and we played as a team in offense,” said San Francisco coach Flavio Christian Liaz.
Rucacorva, who sizzled all-night with his razzle-dazzle plays, fired a game-high 25 points to lead San Francisco while Jake Laurence Gonzales added 14 and Wilson Plenos chipped in 12.
Emmanuel Villamor scored 18 points for Consolacion while Rey Gonzaga and Marko Booker Panta contributed 13 and 11, respectively. (ML)