THE Tabogon Voyagers leaned on the clutch shot of big man Arvie Bringas to carry them past the Tubigon Bohol Mariners, 102-99, in the Visayas leg of the 2021 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup on Tuesday evening, April 13, at the Alcantara Civic Center in the municipality of Alcantara in the southern part of Cebu.
Tied at 99-all, Bringas set himself up in the lowpost, backed his defender down and scored inside to give the Voyagers a 101-99 lead with just 56 seconds to go in the game.
On the Mariners’ next possession, Joseph Marquez’ entry pass was picked off by Voyagers wingman Jethro Sombero which led to a made free-throw by Joemari Lacastesantos for a 102-99 Tabogon advantage, time down to 36 seconds.
On Bohol’s last offensive, Mac Montilla got two clean shots at the potential game-tying three-pointer and missed both to give the Voyagers their first win of the tournament after opening their campaign with a loss to MJAS Zenith-Talisay City.
Bohol, meanwhile, fell to 0-2.
Bringas finished the game with 24 points and eight rebounds while Sombero had a huge double-double of 15 points and 14 boards along with an assist and a steal. Almel Orquina added 14 points, three rebounds and seven assists while Niño Caballero chipped in 13 markers and seven boards.
Peter John de Ocampo rounded out Tabogon’s double-figure scorers with 12.
Afterwards, head coach Expedito Delos Santos Jr. said they really had to ride the play of Bringas, with him being one of the few veterans they have on the squad, especially with former pro Harold Arboleda being sidelined for a week after suffering a sprained ankle in their first game.
“The play was to go in the post because we noticed that they couldn’t stop him,” said Delos Santos of the game’s deciding play. “Masaya ako kasi he’s one of the veterans of the group. Masaya po ako sa nangyari.”
Marquez almost had a triple-double for the Mariners with 22 points, nine rebounds and eight assists while Jumike Casera scored 14 points. Wade Cabizares contributed 13 while Mario Leonida fired in 12. Pari Llagas compiled 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block.
THE SCORES
Tabogon (102) — Bringas 24, Sombero 15, Orquina 14, Caballero13, De Ocampo 12, Lacastesantos 7, Delos Reyes 6, Bersabal 6, Diaz 5
Bohol (99) — Marquez 22, Casera 14, Cabizares 13, Leonida 12, Llagas 11, Montilla 8, Dadijul 7, Ibarra 4, Tilos 4, Musngi 2, Tangunan 2
Quarterscores: 29-33, 58-62, 81-84, 102-99
(JNP)