The San Juan Knights recovered from a Game 1 loss in style, beating the hard-fighting Palayan City Capitals at their own homecourt at Gapan City Gymnasium in Nueva Ecija, 74-66, over the weekend to even the best-of-three championship series in the Community Basketball Association Executive Cup Finals at one game apiece.
The Knights, who lost Game 1 at the San Juan Gym a week ago, started the game firing on all cylinders, as they stormed to an early 17-7 lead before ending the first frame with a huge 23-9 advantage.
Ato Ular, who posted his second double-double of 20 points and 14 boards in the Finals, starred in that stretch, scoring almost at will around the paint against the smaller Capitals’ frontline.
With Judel Fuentes and Arvin Gamboa joining the scoring fray, San Juan’s lead ballooned to as many as 21, before ending the half still comfortably ahead at 44-25.
The Capitals fought back in the third, outscoring the suddenly error-prone Knights, 29-14, capped by a buzzer-beating trey from Renz Alcoriza to trail by only three, 55-58, entering the fourth.
The Capitals, however, fell short as they missed several chances in the crucial stages of the final frame as the Knights proved to be steadier from there, with Lugo and Gamboa scoring key baskets from the free throw line.
Adrian Nocum had nine while Lugo added eight for the Knights, who shot better from the field, 25-52 (45%) to the Capitals’ 24-59 (40%), and had more rebounds, 50-37.
Gilmer Dela Torre, who led Palayan’s big run in the third quarter, finished with 22 points, while Levi dela Cruz added 10 for Palayan.
“Maagang nag-celebrate ang mga players. Akala nila champion na sila. Noong maunahan, nanggigil namang humabol, nawala na ang laro,” rued Palayan coach Alvin Grey.
Grey, however, remains confident that the Capitals can still recover and win the title that comes with a P1-million cash prize from the organizing CBA, led by its president Carlo Maceda.
“We have to adjust at maibalik naming ‘yung nilaro namin sa Game 1. Kakayanin pa naming ‘yan.”
Game 3 will be held next weekend at the new Paco Coliseum in Manila. Details will be announced later.