JETT Yaranon lifted Jammers 2005 to their second ABA title after beating the Wolves 2007 via a thrilling 65-62 escape in the deciding Game 3 of the 8th XUHS-ABA St. Ignatius de Loyola Cup final on Saturday at Xavier Estates and Country Club here.
Yaranon finished with 14 points, while John Thomas Pupos and Jai Manulat added 10 and 9 markers, respectively.
Both teams engaged in a grueling fight, but the Jammers had the final say at the end.
The Jammers took advantage of the situation when the Wolves’ starting guard Ephraim Dahilan struggled with a hamstring injury at 1:26 mark of the final fourth quarter and never returned.
With Dahilan on the bench, Jao Demecillo took charge of the offense, even giving the Wolves a one-point lead with still 1:05 minute to go.
But, Yaranon saved the day for the Jammers as he fired a trey with 50 ticks left and the lead at 61-59.
Demecillo had the chance to tie the score when he fished a foul but just made one of his two free throws.
When it was Yaranon’s turn to pick a foul from Demicillo, he made sure to convert his pair of charity shots for a 3-point lead that was quickly negated to one by a Demicillo twinner and the time down to 18 seconds.
In their last ball possession, Jim Menciano broke out from the Wolves’ tight defense for a coast-to-coast lay-up and the Jammers’ crowning glory.
Demecillo scored 14 points for the Wolves that also got 10 from the injured Dahilan.