R. Lapid and 9G Visa pulled off contrasting wins in the action-packed Intermediate Division of the Next5Hoops Metro Manila Central Leg Qualifier last weekend.
R. Lapid had no problem in disposing of Gulp Sharks, 100-72, with all its 10 players contributing at least 2 points.
It was R. Lapid’s game from the get-go, ending the opening period with a 12-point lead that ballooned to as much as 28 points.
Kirk Todoc racked up 18 points and seven boards for R. Lapid, which also drew 14 points from Rodel Dequilla and 12 points apiece for Jason Santos, Jojo Libunao and Bong Melocoton.
Only Paolo Avecilla breached the 20-point mark as he finished with 24 for Gulp Sharks, but it hardly mattered as his team never got to within single digits for the rest of the game.
9G Visa, meanwhile, had to go through the wringer to turn back J and J, 89-88.
Chris Domingo’s game-winning bucket with 0.3 seconds left completed the stunning comeback by 9G Visa, which was trailing by 10 midway the payoff period.
Trailing for most of the contest, 9G Visa just kept on charging back until a 16-5 run in the last 4:50 carried them to the victory.
Ron Niñeza caught fire for 9G Visa, finishing with 30 points, while Domingo provided solid back up with 17.
It was a heartbreaking loss for J and J as JR Oligario’s jaw-dropping 48-point, six-rebound performance went to waste.
In the other Intermediate games, Ballerhood trumped Manila Amigos, 85-74, while Wednesday Group defeated Fuel Saver.
Despite only one player finishing in double digits, Ballerhood managed to wrest the lead and break the game open in the third quarter, leading by as big as 17 late in the game.
Roberto Carlos turned in 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists while Mark Sol and Marvin Delos Reyes added nine apiece.
Wednesday Group, meanwhile, shut down Fuel Savers in the fourth quarter, holding them to just 12 points after letting them score 29 in the previous frame.
Wednesday group also used its sheer advantage in the paint to overpower Fuel Saver, which had 3 players scoring 17.
Mark Marcos had an all-around game with 23 markers and 12 rebounds to lead Wednesday Group, who also got a 22-6 edge in points off turnovers.
Lester Dickens, Kenneth Valenzuela and Rey Cudia had identical outputs for Fuel Saver.
