Toyota completes three-peat

For the third straight year, the championship of the Budweiser Cup BANMI Men’s Island-wide Basketball League is going home with the Bud Light-Toyota Tundra as the team held on to beat the MARAPC-Nissan Titans in Game 3 of the championship series Friday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Much to the delight of their fans, Toyota held off a desperation charge by the Titans in the final minute of the bout for a nerve-wracking 95-93 victory to win the best-of-three series.

Like the first two games, the finale was tightly fought, as the Titans were hungry to dethrone the champions, while Toyota was looking to rebound from their Game 2 loss.

With the two operating on high gear, the first quarter ended with the score leveled at 25-25, with Toyota’s backcourt of Elias Rangamar and Junior Renguul leading their squad, and slotman Jawn Joyner hitting nine points to pace Nissan.

The lead exchanged on countless occasions in the second period as the teams kept pace with each other. Nissan was up 35-34 when Tim Wesley made good on a layup on an assist by Andres “Jhun” Estolas Jr., but Toyota responded with a big 3-pointer by Taj Van Buren to regain the advantage.

After trading baskets, the game was again knotted at 42-all until Toyota center Abong Camacho hit a free throw for a 43-42 halftime lead.

Toyota opened the second half with a bang, going on a 6-0 run for a 49-42 breathing room, but like they’ve done the entire series, the Titans found a way to come back and responded with a 6-0 run of their own to cut the lead back to a point, 48-49. Toyota was clinging to a slim 53-51 lead with half of the third period remaining when Rangamar ignited an 11-1 run in a span of two minutes with a bomb from long range to stretch the lead to double figures, 67-52.

A couple of free throws by Ponce Rasa halted the run, but Toyota was quick to retaliate with a baseline drive by Jake Celes, 69-54, with 2:33 remaining in the quarter.

Joyner then came through again for his team, hitting a free throw, a shot from downtown, and another field goal to pull Nissan to within striking distance, 60-69. Toyota wound up closing the third up by 10 points, 72-62.

Rangamar continued to push the right buttons and scored Toyota’s first seven points of the payoff period capped with a layup for a 79-66 advantage with 8:21 on the clock. Nissan, however, refused to give in and continued to find ways to respond. The team pulled to within 10 points when Wesley hit a free throw after drawing Camacho’s fourth foul with 6:45 left, forcing Toyota to sit their big man.

Nissan then began to chip into the lead as Joyner hit another free throw and Ponce Rasa scored on a layup, 76-83, but again Rangamar found the bottom of the net with a triple to restore Toyota’s double-digit spread midway through the period.

Rangamar was in a zone of his own as he continued to be a factor, penetrating on three straight possessions to draw the defense before dishing off to his teammates for higher percentage attempts, resulting in a 12-point cushion with 2:42 left, 91-79, and forcing Nissan to take a time out.

The time out seemed to be just what the Titans needed as they returned to the court and scored eight unanswered points—four coming from drives by Aleric Aguon—to cut the lead to four, 87-91, with a minute left.

Toyota then leaned on Camacho again as he grabbed another offensive rebound and made good on the put-back to pad the lead, but Joyner was quick to get back on track and scored with 32 seconds on the clock, 89-93.

Renguul answered with another bucket three seconds later, 95-89, but Nissan was still determined and Ponce Rasa punched in a bucket to trim the lead, 91-95.

Camacho and Rasa were then whistled for double fouls with 16 seconds left, resulting in Camacho fouling out and Toyota suing for time.

Nissan had ball possession but had trouble trying to work out a play as Rangamar swatted the ball twice while pressuring near the half-court line. Important seconds were ticking off the clock and the Titans finally put the ball through the hoop with 4.2 seconds left to pull closer, 93-95.

The Titans pressured on defense in hopes of another turnover, but Rangamar’s pass successfully found the waiting hands of forward Edsel Mendoza, who dribbled away as time expired.

Rangamar led Toyota, hitting five triples and finishing with 26 points, while Camacho and Mendoza pumped in 20 and 12 points.

Joyner had a good night with a game-high 31 points, while Steve Rasa and Aguon contributed 15 and 14 points, with Rasa hitting four triples in the first half.

Bud Light-Toyota Tundra 95 – Rangamar 26, Camacho 20, Renguul 17, Mendoza 12, Van Buren 9, Iginoef 9, Celes 2.

MARPAC-Nissan Titans 93 – Joyner 31, S. Rasa 15, Aguon 14, P. Rasa 9, Wesley 8, Estolas 6, Fitial 4, Quitugua 3, Deleon Guerrero 3.

Scoring by quarters: 25-25, 43-42, 72-62, 95-93.

Referees: Dado Vistal, Arnold Mesa and Jess Pacheco.