Lingayen-Manaoag clash in best-of-3 championship series

By April 2, 2018News, Sports

2nd GOVERNOR’S CUP’s INTER-TOWN/CITY

LINGAYEN – It will be Lingayen vs. Manaoag for the championship crown in the best-of-three series of the 2nd Governor’s Cup Inter-Town/City Basketball Tournament in April.

Game one of the final will be held on April 7 at the Calasiao Sports Center, while Game two will be staged on April 14 at the NRSCC Gym. If necessary, Game 3 will be held on April 21 also at the NRSCC Gym.

This developed after the underdog team Lingayen shocked defending champion Binmaley in a do-or-die match on March 25 by two points, 79-77.

Lingayen ended the first quarter with a four-point lead, 19-15, while Binmaley hauled a three-point advantage in the second quarter. The third quarter, on the other hand, ended in a deadlock with 55-55.

With the tandem of the Melendez brothers (Roxar and Mark) plus the intense game of Paul Cruz and other support players, Binmaley dominated the fourth quarter by as high as seven points, 68-61 with six minutes remaining until Lingayen team captain Marven Jophet Mamaril aka El Granada sizzled with a three-point shot with 5 minutes left that brought the score even closer to 68-66.

Intensity was displayed by both teams in the last two minutes of the game to include another deadlock at 77-77 when ace player Mark Kenneth Castillo scored one of his free throws. In the last 44 seconds of the match, promising cager Jeremy Casaclang blocked one possible two-pointer of the Binmaley team. Luck favored Lingayen team when Roxar Melendez committed his fifth foul on Mamaril in the last 14 seconds of the game. Mamaril successfully made his two free throws shots took the lead, 79-77. The last five seconds became crucial for Binmaley team when MK Castillo of Lingayen blocked Binmaley player Estebar’s shot. In the final five seconds of the game, Marinas of the defending champion contingent took a shot but failed to score.

On the other hand, Manaoag team—last season’s second best team overpowered Urdaneta City in their do-or-die game by an 11 points, 93-82. The first quarter ended with Urdaneta leading by four points, 24-20. Both teams scored a deadlock, 42-42 in the second quarter. On the third quarter, the Manaoag contingent led by sharpshooters Manny Santos, Aromin, and Bautista, supported by defensive player Serafica, managed to haul a 17-point lead against the central city team.

Urdaneta tried to mount a rally led by three-point sniper Chuck Barcelona, Ismael Sarmiento, Advento, Abalos, and Asilo in the third quarter. By the fourth quarter, Manaoag continued to post a comfortable lead to as high as 19 points until this was trimmed down to just 11 points.

A highlight of the semi-finals berth was the second edition of the three-point shootout after the first game. Scores: Mark Melendez (Binmaley) – 6 points, Arman Advento (Urdaneta City) – 6 points, Anthony Ico (Sta. Barbara) – 4 points; William Bautista (Manaoag) – 3 points.

For the finals berth, Binmaley and Urdaneta will compete for third place. (PIO/RRB)

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