Lion Hearts break Dukes’ hearts
PANAGBENGA BASKETBALL
THE LNU (Lyceum Northwestern University) Dukes played an energetic and sharp game in the first three quarters to lead the match, but found themselves weathered by the searing charge of their opponent in the fourth quarter to yield in the end to a pulsating 83-81 finish by La Finns Scholastica Lion Hearts in the 8th Panagbenga Invitational Basketball Championship held at Easter College gym last week.
Trailing by a mere point, 54-55, at the third period, the La Union champion Lion Hearts struck hard in the final period to lead by eight points, 77-69, midway at the fourth, with its two point guards Jonathan Graycochea and Rico Francisco at the helm combining 14 points at the homestretch.
Two offensive rebounds with conversions by center Renbert Bayo, with 27 seconds left, sealed the match and the crown for the Ilocanos, their first after numerous tries.
The Dukes trailing by two points, 81-83, with 6.9 seconds remaining, had the chance to win or tie the match but forward Llyod Quisay misfired a three-point attempt that teammate point-guard George Alipio made possible but his buzzer-beating shot was defied by the six-foot-three Bayo.
Bayo collected a team high 17 points while Graycochea and Francisco contributed 15 and 14 marks, respectively, for the new champion team.
The 2013 PRISAA National Games first runner-up Dukes’ top three point makers were Alipio with a game high 20, Quisay with 15 and pivot-man Rodcel Yanga with 14.–JAGJr.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
