Manaoag enters finals, dethrones Lingayen

By April 14, 2019News, Sports

LINGAYEN – Team Manaoag cagers to earn their ticket to the championships of the 3rd Governor’s Cup Inter-Town/City Basketball Tournament after they dethroned Lingayen in semifinal rounds.

Team Manaoag came ready with their first set of players led by Adrian P. Barrozo, Manny C. Santos, and Mark Christian Meneses. And took the lead,17-13, after successive free throws by Meneses and Joe Anthony Jacinto and another basket charged by the latter with assist from Michael Rosalin.

As soon as the second quarter opened, Lingayen narrowed the gap to one point, 22-21, and eventually posted the first deadlock in the second canto, 27-27, with six minutes left.

The deadlock pushed Manaoag cagers: Meneses, Santos and Kevin F. Santos to bury their nemesis via uninterrupted baskets. Manaoag cagers nudged their foes with a 17-point advantage, 44-27, but thanks to Jessie Mark Artates of Team Lingayen who mustered a back-to-back basket despite sticky defense of Manaoag to close the halftime with 13-point deficit, 44-31.

Starting the third canto with a bang, Manaoag’s sniper initiated the 3-point-shot outburst but Lingayen players led by Mamaril, last season’s MVP, held their ground and survived to cut down the lead of Manaoag to four points, 51-47, midway of the third quarter.

Team Manaoag’s Meneses frustrated the basket attempt of Mamaril initially but the latter fired a furious 3-point shot to trim down their deficit and another 2-point basket by Michael Jan Castro, paving the way to only one deficit, 60-59.

Mamaril drained back-to-back 3-point shots to keep up with Manaoag, 65-65, but Manaoag still led at the end of the third canto, 69-65.

The fighting spirit of Team Lingayen soared higher as Mamaril executed his 3-point shots. Castro, Sarreno and Artates teamed up with Mamaril to cut the lead of Manaoag, 82-80.

The combo of Santos and Jacinto hampered the momentum of Lingayen cagers in the dying minutes of the match. Lingayen cagers led by Artates and Mamaril managed to extend their bloody match via overtime with a deadlock at the end of the fourth quarter, 92-92.

In a bid to usher Team Manaoag to victory, Jacinto scored three points and two successful free throws in the last two minutes.

With 12 seconds left in the game clock, Lingayen tried to extend the game via Manuelito Arias’ 3-point shot but failed after Santos’ two-point basket and two free throws, 107-105, to end the epic duel and to officially dethrone Lingayen.

Team Manaoag will play against Team Urdaneta City in the finals on April 13 while Lingayen will face Sto. Tomas in a knock-out match game for 3rd over-all. (PIO/ SMDG)

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments