Batang Kankaloo-Caloocan used a telling windup to turn back Bicol 78-74 last Monday night for its first win in the Pilipinas Super League Pro Division Second Conference Dumper Cup at the Caloocan Sports Complex.
After trailing 70-71 on a three-pointer by Spicy Oragon veteran James Martinez with 1:49 to go, the Koolers unleashed a 7-0 binge capped by a triple by former PBA player Reil Cervantes that made it 77-71, only 41 ticks left.
A Jygruz Laude free throw pushed Batang Kankaloo-Caloocan’s buffer to 78-71 even as Bicol guard Alwin Alday knocked down a triple that pegged the final count.
Earlier, Nueva Ecija clobbered Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan 79-62 to crash the winner’s circle.
Cervantes scattered a game-high 23 points, on top of five assists and two rebounds for the Koolers, while Gabby Espinans, another former PBA big man, complemented him with 15 markers and seven boards.
John Tayongtong also had 14 points, three caroms, and two dimes for Batang Kankaloo-Caloocan, which made up for an 87-95 loss to Manila in its opener last Thursday in the meet presented by Dumper party list, Winzer, and Converge and supported by Wcube Solutions Inc., MDC, Unisol, Don Benitos, and Finn Cotton, with PBA and Gilas Pilipinas great Marc Pingris serving as Commissioner.
Martinez scored 18 points and grabbed three rebounds for the Oragon, while Alday added 15 and five.
Jerie Pingoy also contributed 10 points for Bicol, which came off a 73-72 escape over the Slashers also last Thursday.
Jeric Nacpil banged in 14 points, to go with four rebounds and two assists for Nueva Ecija, while Edzel Mag-Isa and Edjie Jejillos had 11 markers each.
Exequil Biteng was the lone bright spot for Koponang Lakan ng Bulacan with 10 points.
The Scores
First game
BATANG KANKALOO-CALOOCAN 78 – Cervantes 23, Espinas 15, Tayongtong 14, Caranguian 7, Sanga 6, Laude 5, Iñigo 5, Cinco 3, Orquina 0, Gonzales 0, Manalang 0, Santos 0, Galicia 0, Casin 0, Valin 0.
BICOL 74 – Martinez 18, Pingoy 10, Bonleon 7, Montuano 7, Pido 6, Reyes 6, Carandang 5, Cudal 0, Destacamento 0, Olegario 0, Mendoza 0, Contojos 0, Sumalinog 0, Castro 0.
Quarters: 19-16, 39-32, 59-57, 78-74.
Second game
NUEVA ECIJA 79 – Nacpil 14, Mag-Isa 11, Jejillos 11, Torado 8, Juanico 6, Ingel 5, Tolentino 5, Bautista 4, Ingusan 4, Bartolo 4, De Guzman 4, Pascual 3, Mallari 0, Mancao 0, Cobarrubias 0.
KOPONANG LAKAN NG BULACAN 62 – Biteng 10, Ballesteros 9, Najorda 7, Monte 6, Pangilinan 6, Serrano 5, Casajeros 5, Malabag 5, Pablo 4, Ramirez 3, Salamat 2, Gomez de Liaño 0, Cruz 0, Sumampong 0, Maurillo 0.
Quarters: 21-15, 42-31, 58-41, 79-62.