"SEABA 12" makes epic debut, rallies to beat Visayas All-Stars

PBA

By Ivan Saldajeno

CALAMBA--The "SEABA 12" of Gilas finally made its grand debut on Sunday night.

And the team showed heart in the end.

The national team to the SEABA Men's Championship bucked a sluggish start to beat the Visayas All-Stars, 125-112, in the final game of the PBA All-Star Week at the Hoops Dome in Lapu-Lapu.

Appearing to be still groping in form early on, Gilas found itself down by 15, 15-30, late in the first quarter.

Gilas slowly recovered and finally took the lead, 65-64, in the third quarter.

The Visayas All-Stars quickly regained control and were up by 10 again, 92-82, later in the third.

Gilas reclaimed the lead for good after launching an 11-0 run that spanned through the fourth quarter and stretched it to as high as 18 later in the frame to seal the deal.

Calvin Abueva and Terrence Romeo took over for Gilas off the bench, combining for 51 points in a game where Matt Wright, who as crowned back-to-back MVP's in the previous legs, was limited to only four points. Romeo was eventually named the MVP.

LA Tenorio, a late call-up for the Visayas All-Stars with Romeo, who was initially part of the lineup, being summoned to Gilas' "SEABA 12", led them with 19 markers.

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