WITH no more time left, a miscommunication with the table officials cost Huminova Tigers to lose against AACI Farms with Victor Hugo needing to convert just one of his three free throws to lead the Farms past the Tigers, 68-67, in the Fil-Sino All Asian Countertrade Inc. 2nd Conference Inter-Color tournament at Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym.
With the score tied at 67-all, the Tigers was told by the officials that they still have a foul to give. They thought they only have three team fouls, but, they were actually just a foul away from the penalty.
Fouled while attempting a trey as the time expired, Hugo was awarded three free throws by the referees. He missed his first shot but converted the second to give Farms the victory.
Earlier, Farms sizzled as Ralph Richard Tan and Arvin Gustilo spewed fire from beyond the arc with six triples between them for a 26-14 lead. Gustilo had a game-high 17 points in the opening quarter.
With several options in its lineup, Farms extended the lead to 32-14 in the second quarter even with Bobby Yap and Deonyson Dy combining for 15 points for the Tigers to cut the lead at 45-30 by halftime.
The Tigers slowly made headway as they continued to narrow the game in the second half as injuries plagued Farms key players Gustilo and Daniel Tan late in the third.
An awkward buzzer beating banked shot triple by Arvin Chua and RB Chua's layup finally gave the Tigers the lead at 56-55. With four minutes left in the game, RJ Iligan and Ralph Richard Tan each hit a triple each to answer another Arvin Chua triple and Bobby Yap layup.
With the Tigers keeping a two-point lead, Johann Villanueva and Rey Jara's twinners put Farms back on top. But Bobby Yap drilled in two free throws for the Tigers to tie the game.
Backstopping Gustilo were Tan and RJ Iligan with 12 points each while Johann Villanueva finished with 8 points.
Bobby Yap paced the Tigers with 17 points while RB Chua tallied 15, Arvin Chua 14, and Richard Co, 7.
In the second game, AACI Transport scored an emphatic victory over AACI Trading, 131-91.
The Transport guys outscored Trading in all quarters as Julius Teruel erupted for 45 points to lead five of his teammates in double figures with Daniel Chiu hitting 23 points, Mark Binguan and CHibon Uy having 16 points each, Rey Pandoro contributing 13 and Jolly Castillo, 11 points.
Senior Supt. Adonis Rosales led Trading with 24 points, while Eduardo Ng delivered 11, Michael Ang scored 10, Cris Vargas and Celhelm Uy with 9 points apiece.
AACI Farms and AACI Transport are leading the tournament with four wins in as many starts while Huminova Tigers dropped to 3-1 and AACI Trading remained winless at 0-4.
Games today will be between Basecom and Organic Solutions in the first game and AACI Trading against Huminova Tigers in the second game. (With report from Stephen Tan)