In a heart-thumping conclusion, PLDT took home the 2016 Next5Hoops Corporate – Competitive Division championship after scraping past SCMC, 89-88, in double overtime last February 12.
But PLDT needed two extra five minutes to seal what it failed to do it regulation, where it lost a 15 point lead to a rampaging comeback by SCMC.
It got the first lead in 2OT and stretched it to 5 points, only to see SCMC take over again with a 7-0 run for an 86-84 lead with 1:30 left in the game.
This time, PLDT made sure to finish thing off, getting the lead back on a triple from Ron Guerrero, 87-86, with .44 ticks left and freezing the final score with a two-pointer from EJ De Guzman.
De Guzman had a brilliant game for PLDT with 30 whopping points that went along with 13 rebounds.
Charles Duco had an all-around game of eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists while Ian Dela Paz chipped in 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Duco went on to claim the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
PLDT was pushed to the limit in the finals, which was a contrast to its 70-59 victory over Accenture in the semis last February 5 where Duco and Dela Paz also led the team.
It was a heartbreaking loss for SCMC, which came close to snatching the championship away but just couldn’t seal the deal down the stretch.
It was unlike its semifinals victory over DN Steel, where it escaped with a 95-91 victory.
But in this loss, SCMC drew phenomenal performances from Vickson Pajimola, who had 23 points and 15 rebounds and Jan Estores, who had 18 points, five rebounds and two steals.
SCMC made PLDT pay for its turnovers, scoring 26 points off the miscues.
