UL quintet upsets AIE in double overtime
2nd JIMMY FERNANDEZ CUP
THE University of Luzon (UL) junior Golden Tigers won the hard way against last year’s runner-up AIE-College Eagles in double overtime, 123-119, to register its first win after three outings in the ongoing 2nd Jimmy Fernandez Cup 2011.
The Tigers lost their first two games against PIMSAT and UEP.
The team, highly-charged in the first quarter, 23-12, its center-forward Paul del Moral rifled eight points mostly from the shaded lane. Not contented, the boys of Dagupan City alderman Chito Samson poured it on during the second period and led by as much 16 points, 33-17, spearheaded by its four reliable gunners Del Moral, Joey Laurian, Kevin Neri and Niccon Cresencio combining 27 points to lead the half, 56-43.
But the never-say-die eight-man Eagles mentored by Noah delo Vieres slowly but surely crept from behind to trim down the gap at the third juncture, 72-67, with its marquee players Jeffrey Yanes, Amadito Perez and Jason Villareal at the helm.
Yanes, sinking three treys plus free a throw after a basket by Tigers’ Lurian, tied the game at 86-86 and then his team took the lead for the first time through a penetration shot by Villareal.
A see-saw battle then ensued and the fourth quarter ended with both teams having 94 points, extending the game by an extra five minutes.
The additional period turned out to be another see-saw match despite Yanes fouling out 2:25 minutes still remaining. After a reversed basket by Cresencio with 39 ticks left, Perez forced the tight game into another overtime by converting two free throws with just three seconds left, tying the game at 109-109.
Tired and confused, the incomplete Eagles yielded the second five-minute extra period to the delight of the UL fans.
The Eagles are now tied with the UPang Flames at the cellar in the six-team field with one win and three losses.
The first of the two-round-robin matches ends on January 24 at the Divine Word Academy gymnasium with guest team LNU Dukes against AIE College at 1:00 p.m. and PAMMA against UL at 2:30 p.m.–JAGJr.
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