CEBU CITY – The Bustamante Construction-University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers were determined to sweep their opening day assignments.
But the Arianos Construction-backed Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) Generals had other things in mind.
The Generals struck hard in the endgame and rallied for an 89-85 come-from-behind win over the Green Lancers in the Mayor Kirk Asis Open Invitational Basketball Tournament 2024 in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur on Thursday, June 27.
The Generals overcame a 13-point second-quarter deficit, foiling the Green Lancers’ unbeaten opening day bid behind the endgame brilliance of Nicol Gil Quinal.
UV built a 68-55 lead late in the second period but suffered a major blow in the third period when their 6’8” Ivorian import Lass Coulibaly was thrown out for incurring a second technical foul.
UV was still ahead 78-71 when the match was briefly stopped after the game clock malfunctioned at the 5:57 mark of the final period.
When game resumed, Quinal sizzled as he scored seven in a 9-0 run that shoved the Generals ahead, 80-78. UV regrouped and was able to retake the lead, 85-84, with 1:23 left.
Just as UV looked ready to take down another Manila-based team, EAC came up with one final push as King Gurtiza sank two free throws that gave the lead back to the Generals, 86-85, with 1:15 remaining.
Quinal then delivered the final nail on UV’s coffin, dropping a booming triple as the General seized a four-point cushion with only 41.2 ticks left.
Gurtiza top scored for EAC with 26 points while Quinal pitched in 23 markers.
Raul Gentallan fired 16 points to lead the Gary Cortes-coached UV, which started the competition with an 80-68 thrashing of the Vincare Pharma-University of Perpetual Help Altas in the morning games of the three-day tournament.
UV led by as many as 21 points, ripping the game wide open behind a torrid third-quarter run.
With Albert John Sacayan hitting four straight triples, the Green Lancers started the third with an 18-4 run to turn a 48-41 halftime cushion into a huge 66-55 lead.
“Our boys just wanted to show that we can win against teams from Manila,” said Cortes.
Sacayan led UV against the Altas with 26 points anchored on seven three-pointers. Kent Ivo Salarda was also extra hot for the Green Lancers as he converted six triples to finish with 22 points.
“These guys have the license to shoot. When they are open, they have to take those shots,” Cortes said.
Angelo Belsano led the Altas with 13 points, while Christian Pagaran and Shawn Orgo added 12 and 10, respectively.
Also winning in the opening day were the Wengburs Apartelle and Ella Store/San Beda Red Lions, who nosed out the ARQ Builders/Adamson University Soaring Falcons, 65-64.
Jomel Puno donned the hero’s cape for the Red Lions, converting a free throw with nine-tenth of a second left of the tightly-fought contest.
The two protagonists seemed headed to an overtime session when Adamson’s Matthew Montebon hit a three-pointer that tied the contest at 64-all with 18.8 seconds to go.
Puno saved San Beda’s day when he grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled while attempting a putback with 0.9 seconds left.
Puno sank the first free throw then intentionally missed the second attempt as time ran out while the two teams fought for the loose ball.
Puno topped San Beda with 16 points. Cedrick Manzano had 17 points for Adamson, which was playing the Atlas as of press time.