TEAM Jireh poured all the much needed points in the pay off period to escape Virac Sports Organization, 92-88, in bracket D of the on-going eliminations of the 2nd Budz Cup Invitational Basketball Tournament.
After a five-point set-back at the end of the first period, 22-27, Jireh turned the tides to earn its first team victory Monday evening at the Easter College gym.
Bryan Abellera steered Jireh with 17 points including six he converted late in the second quarter to lead VISCOR at the close of the first half, 41-46.
VISCOR however rallied at the start of the third canto with Nadres Bugnay Jr. and Emannuel Quindao stepping up, but it was not enough to regain control of the ball game as Abellera, Alford Pay-an, and Kitz Ocawe combined for 17 points to lead, 67-61.
Viscor managed to spark hope at the 7:55 mark of the pay-off period as Quindao dropped a back-to-back three-pointer stealing the lead from Jireh by one, 70-69.
But the Jireh trio comprised of Ocawe, Emil Tomas, and Zaldy Rillera scattered their offensive attacks hacking another huge 19 combined points that sealed the win.
“The team just focused their minds into winning the game, we adjusted to find the right rotation and rhythm after the first period and it went all the way until the finish,” said Jireh Coach Oliver Baquiran.
Baquiran added he advised his post player to be more aggressive under the basket.
“We knew we had the post advantage and basically I told the boys to kick out and attack under it, hopefully we can manage to carry this win into our next game,” Baquiran quipped.
Pay-an capped out 16 points, while Ocawe added 14 as Rillera and Tomas contributed 11 points each.
Quindao led Viscor with 18 points, two rebounds and one steal, while Lenz Antolino, Kim Padawag, and Rene Benawe each closed out with 14 points apiece.