IN SEMIFINAL matches fraught with drama and thrilling twists and turns, the youth-laden Team Doc Neri and the veterans-powered Team Gabe both came back from four-point deficit in the breathtaking homestretch to arrange a title showdown in the 1st NMR-IV Governor Luiben Magto Cup Eagles basketball tournament at the Nazareth gym, Cagayan de Oro City.
Team Doc Neri, which squandered early a twin-digit lead to struggle in thrilling fourth quarter, relied on the heroics of former Perpetual Help standout Sean Neri and the late-arriving Eric Baa to repulse Team Abamin, 58-56.
This, as Team Gabe - whose 10-point spread early on also quickly fizzled in the final half - saw the breaks of the game, went on their way in the final minute to break the hearts of Team Nobles dribblers, 81-76 on Wednesday night’s crossover matches described by tournament commissioner Gary Mejos as “one of the thrilling games that I witnessed. Apil ang table staff nakatindog na sa lamesa.”
Against Team Abamin, bannered by former NCAA Best Defensive Player of the Year Marco Arbole (San Beda) and erstwhile 3-on-3 national champion Dan Rosales, the youthful Neri returned to the court after a bad fall to unload a Hail Mary trey then lanky forward Baa - who came late in the final half - scored a difficult layup against Rosales as Team Doc Neri overhauled a four-point deficit in less than a minute left in the final fourth quarter.
“Gauna iyang ulo unya mora’g nakatukod pagkatagak. Abi namo’g nabali ang kamot, pero nakabalik pa sa iyang tres nabuhi og balik ang Team Doki,” said fellow Eagle Steve Asil of the younger Neri.
With commercial player Macmac Labares pounding hard to the hoops, the ageless Team Gabe hoopsters entered the last 2 minutes of the ballgame trailing by four that was even aggravated when the referee whistled Wyndel Relevo for unsportsmanlike foul that awarded Team Nobles with 2 free-throws plus ball possession.
Bui it did not dampen the spirit of Boning Biongcog, Janjan Babiera, John Naliponguit and Shian Galinada as they conspired in the endgame tiff for the sudden reversal of fortune.
“Breaks of the game lang gyod napaingon sa amo kay mora’g peldi na nidaug pa,” playing coach Imok Cabrezos could only say of Team Gabe’s nightmarish escape.
“Underdog sab gyod `ta sa ila, kay halos tanan sa ato mga 40 above na against sa ila na mga bata pa kaayo,” added Babiera.
Neri paced Team Doki with 19 points as Ogag Noble and Baa added 13 and 8 markers each.
Arbole, Biongcog’s teammate when they were still with the Corpus Christi Knights, led Team Abamin with 21 as Morong and Rosales contributed 15 and 11 apiece.
Biongcog and Galanida scored 21 and 19 each for Team Gabe as Naliponguit, Relevo and Babiera doled out 11, 10 and 9 points, respectively.
Labares had 31 for Team Nobles’ forgettable night with Maher Eduave and Valledor adding 15 and 11 points each.
Team Nobles’ star forward-center Jun Daanoy apparently failed to show up.
“Kon ang duha gyod nakatunga (Labares and Daanoy), wala nay mopeldi sa amo ini nga liga,” Team Nobles coach Yogi Hembrador said earlier.