VETERAN guard Anton Pabillore on Tuesday afternoon, August 21, sank back-to-bank 3 pointers and the underdog Team Branch led at the half, 29-25, over CLG in basketball championship of the 2018 BDO Sportsfest at the uptown Xavier University High School (XUHS) gym in Pueblo de Oro.
With clutch shooter Pacio Valencia joining in the fray, Team Branch dominated the first quarter by 7 points, 21-14, with the semifinal hero warming up with 7 markers to go along with the combined 8 of Macmac Orapa and Lagasca.
Altogether, they managed to neutralize the youthful tandem of former varsity standouts Noel Yaranon of Xavier University and Bob Pagalan of Liceo de Cagayan University who opened the quarter with 7 and 5 points, respectively.
“May lang unta ma-sustain ang lead kay underdog among team ani nga championship,” one elderly Team BDO Branch executive was overheard as saying.
The wards of CLG coach Jessie Tolod retaliated in the second quarter with Marvin Neri leading the charge with his 10-point bubble that cut Team Branch’s edge to 4.
Reinforced by young players in this year’s BDO hoopfest that goes inter-departmental for the first time, Team Branch almost bid goodbye when the Stephen Go-powered Cash Hub 1 took a 2-point lead with only 5 seconds left in the final fourth quarter of their semifinal encounter.
But the spirited Valencia eluded his defender in a one-on-one situation with a classic step-back jumper from the 3-point arc to break the hearts of many-time MVP Go and company.
“Na-ilok gyod sila adto nga sitwasyon and we’re hoping nga makaukas na sab 'mi aning finals naa pa duha ka quarters nabilin,” Valencia was quite optimistic in good-natured ribbing with this writer at the half.