TALOMO District kept its lead in the team standing after a come-from-behind victory over Bunawan District, 74-70, in the resumption of the Duterte Basketball League (DBL) 2016 Inter-Political Barangay Officials tournament at the Almendras Gym Recreation Center Monday afternoon, October 10.
Talomo played catch-up game all throughout the half as they came out dull with poor shooting selections and series of turnovers.
Bunawan moved ahead, 40-23.
Talomo, which came from a week-long vacation, recovered in the third period behind the heroics of Rookie Bais who provided the much needed lift to cut the rival's advantage, 50-46.
Talomo regained momentum as Bais forced the first deadlock, 50-50, earlier in the fourth canto. He and Isidro Dujali unleashed a barrage of baskets for Talomo to snatch a 70-67 edge less than two minutes left in the game.
But Bunawan did not gave up easily as they put up a valiant fight against Talomo as Ging Abian connected on a trey at the side of the court but failed to convert his charity basket, forcing a deadlock at 70-all only 26.1 seconds remaining.
Abian's teammate Clyde Tan grabbed the rebound but his elbow landed on the face of Talomo's forward Nick Mira. Tan was slapped a technical foul and Dujali, on behalf of Mira who was sidelined due to a cut on his eyebrow, sank the two free throws as Talomo converted a shot on its last ball possession to wrap up the match.
Dujali poured in 26 points and Bais added 20 for Talomo that improved to a 5-1 win-loss card.
Abian, however, canned 26 markers for Bunawan that slumped to 2-4.
Talomo will next face winless Marilog District.
The cagefest is presented by the Sports Development Division-City Mayors Office and sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbolista ng Pilipinas.