Diamond sets title tiff vs MIGS

If the Diamond Auto Care-C&R Distributor/NRG playoff pairing was a two-part movie series, the two episodes had different plots, but the same ending.

After its depleted crew stunned NRG Wednesday night, 106-98, to force a do-or-die game for the second finals ticket in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League, Diamond shone anew, slipping past NRG in the rubbermatch, 88-83, Thursday night at CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan.

In Diamond’s win on Wednesday, spectators watched Boy Garcia’s wards controlled the game from start to finish en route to an eight-point win.

In Thursday’s game, the audience witnessed how NRG fell apart in the fourth quarter and a tale of one of the biggest comebacks in basketball leagues here.

Diamond was down by as much as 21 points in the first half, 44-23, when it started working its way back into the game in the third period and stole the lead and the win in the closing seconds of the match.

NRG entered the final 2:30 of the game with an 83-76 lead, after James Villacrusis made an uncontested undergoal stab.

But that was NRG’s last basket, as Jericho Cruz muffed four crucial free throws in the fourth period.

Esdrelon made two layups and Sonny Ranola drilled one in a span of less than a minute to move Diamond within one, 82-83, with 54 seconds left in the game.

Cruz was fouled in the ensuing play, but missed his two free throws, as he was obviously bothered by Diamond supporters, who were booing him.

Guiab collared the rebound after Cruz’s second miss charity and from the backcourt threw a perfect pitch to Esdrelon, who was sprinting to their frontcourt and drilled a layup giving Diamond the lead, 84-83, with 39 seconds remaining on the clock.

NRG quickly inbounded the ball with Melvin Villarin rushing to their frontcourt. Villarin thought he had already eluded the defense of Cosino, who from the back reached in and tapped the ball. Cosino’s gamble worked, as Villarin lost the ball and Guiab picked it up.

NRG had a chance to regain the lead when Diamond made an error, as Ranola’s crosscourt pass to Brendo Talania was intercepted by Cruz. Cruz had another trip to the 15-foot line when he was bumped by Talania, as the latter attempted to steal the pass.

With Diamond supporters making noises anew while he was shooting from the stripe, Cruz bowed to the pressure and muffed two charities, again.

Cosino controlled the rebound and was fouled by Estolas, with 11 seconds left in the game and with NRG not yet reaching the penalty mark.

NRG went over the limit when Errol Peredo fouled Ranola from the right sideline of Diamond’s frontcourt.

Ranola calmly sank the two free throws increasing Diamond’s lead to three, 86-83, with seven seconds left in the game.

NRG coach Marvin Deocares called his last timeout to set up a game-tying play. Peredo inbounded the ball from the midcourt and passed it to Villacrusis, who went for a long triple from the left key and missed.

Talania got the rebound, was fouled, and put the icing on the cake in the last one second of the match canning his two charities.

Diamond will be battling MIGS tonight for the championship trophy.

[B]Diamond 88[/B] – Esdrelon 33, Ranola 23, Guiab 13, Talania 10, Cosino 8, Bicera 1.

[B]NRG 83[/B] – Peredo 23, Villacrusis 15, Cruz 14, Estolas 12, Villarin 6, Camacho 4, Barrios 3, Capalad 3, Gamboa 3.

[B]Scoring by quarters[/B]: 21-25, 35-47, 57-66, 88-83.