JPS Zamboanga City leaned on the clutch shotmaking of Mac Cardona and Fran Yu to take down the Clarin Sto. Niño, 95-93, in overtime to sweep the first phase of the semifinals in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup on Monday, August 2, at the Pagadian City Gymnasium.
Yu scored 15 points in the fourth and the extra sesion to finish with 21 points, to go with eight assists, four rebounds, and three steals.
Cardona, meanwhile, had 16 points, three rebounds, and three steals. He scored 11 of his points in the last 15 minutes of action.
With just 1:27 left, Captain Hook converted a layup to extend JPS' one-point lead to three. Clarin's Joseph Eriobu was then fouled but missed his first attempt before draining his second freebie to bring Clarin closer, 93-95, with 1:17 to go.
With a chance to tie the game with 16.1 ticks remaining, Eriobu was sent to the line. He, however, missed both. Eriobu redeemed himself by grabbing his own miss, but his layup was way off as Yu got the rebound and was fouled.
Yu, a steady shooter from the charity stripe, flunked both his free throws to give Sto. Niño one more chance to tie or even take the victory with 10.5 seconds on the clock.
John Wilson shot a midrange jumper but missed, but Eriobu snatched the offensive board, and gave it to Wilson at the left-wing, who passed it to Lastimosa with no time left, to give Zamboanga the series.
JPS' Jerwin Gaco, who fouled out in the fourth canto with 1:30 left, had 13 points and seven rebounds. Aaron Jeruta had 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists.
Gabby Espinas, visibly exhausted during the extra period, produced 10 points and seven rebounds.
Wilson bounced back from his eight-point performance in Game One, and had 23 points and seven rebounds but was still not enough.
Lastimosa topscored for Clarin with 25 points, while Eriobu got a double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds.
Zamboanga will face the winner of the Pagadian-Roxas series.
If the Vanguards win later today, Game One of the semis second phase will be tomorrow, 6 pm. Meanwhile, if the Explorers force a rubber match, second phase will commence on Wednesday.
The Scores:
Zamboanga City 95 - Yu 21, Cardona 16, Gaco 13, Jeruta 12, Belencion 11, Espinas 10, Lingganay 6, Neypes 3, Ferrer 3, Matias 0.
Clarin 93 - Lastimosa 25, Wilson 23, Eriobu 20, Raymundo 10, Mangahas 7, Baetiong 4, Palattao 2, Hayes 2, Pancho 0, Pagante 0, Fuentes 0, Berdan 0, De Mesa 0.
Quarterscores: 20-22, 35-42, 53-57, 84-84, 95-93. (JNP)