Diamond beats MIGS in 2OT for title

In a title game that seemed had no ending, it took a basket from a player who had been missing all night to finally wrap up the nerve-wracking championship showdown between Diamond Auto Care and MIGS in the Inaugural 2008 PILCOWA-San Miguel Beer Basketball League Saturday night at the CIC Centre Basketball Court in Garapan.

Sonny Ranola canned a side jumper in the last four seconds of the second overtime to lift Diamond to a thrilling 101-99 title win over MIGS.

It was the lone basket that Ranola made since he nailed a layup in the 1:33 mark of the third period. Ranola, who is usually a prolific outside shooter, had a tough night at the office making no more than one field goal in each quarter due to a nagging pain on his right elbow. He had a triple in the first and made a layup each in the second and third period.

But Ranola would not mind being scoreless in regulation, as long as he drilled the basket that mattered most. He would not even care if referee William Sewell ruled his game-winning jumper was only a two pointer, as the former stepped on the 3-point line when he pulled for up a shot on the left corner of the court.

Asked if he was confident he would make the shot despite missing several attempts in the regulation and in the first overtime, Ranola said he felt good when he released the shot.

“I had a good line and a good look at the basket. It was one of those rare shots, which I did not feel pain in my elbow when I pulled up for a jumper,” Ranola said.

“I also did not feel the pressure, as I knew even if I miss the shot, the game will still be tied and we have five more minutes to go for a win,” he added.

The game was tied last at 99-all after Talania’s baseline drive, with 24 seconds left in the second overtime.

MIGS quickly went for an inbound with Bonbon Cadagat receiving the ball and losing patience, as he elected to go for a fastbreak play, instead of slowing things down.

Cadagat tried to be fancy, too, going for an alley-hoop play with Kae Bernardo. But the pass was too high it even hit the rim and past Bernardo’s hands before going out of the baseline, with 21 second left in the second overtime.

Darwin Barbo showed Cadagat how patience made the difference in the title game in the ensuing play.

Talania went for the inbound with the ball touching two Diamond players before it landed to Barbo. Barbo at first was looking to drive in the middle, but when he looked at the clock, it still read eight seconds. He moved back beyond the arc, drew the defense on him freeing Ranola from the corner.

Barbo then threw the ball to Ranola, who pulled up for the long jumper, with four seconds remaining in the game. MIGS ran out of timeouts and White Capalad was forced to attempt desperation triple from the backcourt and missed ending MIGS’ impressive showing in the league.

The title match ended in a tie in regulation with Elmer Esdrelon making the last basket in the fourth period, with 58 seconds left in the final canto. MIGS and Diamond exchanged misses in the remaining minute to send the game into overtime.

After five extra minutes, the match was still tied, 91-all, after Ed Cosino made an undergoal stab, with six seconds left in the first overtime.

MIGS committed an error when Capalad’s inbound pass slipped past Bernardo’s hands, as the latter was pressured by Talania, with three seconds remaining on the clock.

MIGS played tough defense in the last three seconds tapping the ball out of Diamond players three times to send the game in the second overtime.

The title game was played for more than three hours, but it was all worth it, as spectators were treated to a classic finale, with neither team taking full control of the match battling each other neck-and-neck.

In the consolation match, Century won over NRG, 103-88.
[B] Diamond 101[/B]—Esdrelon 28, D. Barbo 21, Guiab 14, Cosino 10, Ranola 9, Talania 9, Delos Reyes 2, Fernandez 2, Bicera 2.
[B] Diamond 99[/B]—Cadagat 33, Bernardo 22, Basila 14, Pantaleon 11, Lerio 9, Demapan 6, Capalad 2.