Cris Bautista thankful for wake-up call to Kapatagan vets

Shaq Alanes' triple sparked Kapatagan's endgame recovery after nearly blowing a 15-point lead. Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas/Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Just when everyone thought Kapatagan had pulled away in its Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup debut on Wednesday night at the Ipil Provincial Gymnasium, Iligan suddenly came alive and turned the game into a wild one midway through the fourth quarter.

Coach Cris Bautista rued the Buffalo Braves' complacency early in the fourth that opened the opportunity for the Archangels to come back in the game.

"Ang naging problema lumaki yung lamang, nag relax kami," said Bautista, whose team was up by as much 15 in the third period.

Good thing for him, two of his longtime hoopers led the way for Kapatagan down the stretch.

Shaq Alanes momentarily fizzled Iligan's run with a huge triple right before a TV timeout.

Joel Lee Yu would respond immediately following the ceasefire with a deuce, but Renz Palma scored five straight points including the eventual dagger trey with 1:07 to play for the Buffalo Braves to escape with the 64-56 victory.

[Related Story: Renz Palma takes over in crunch time as Kapatagan holds off Iligan]

"Buti na lang yung mga beterano ko nagising yata. Crucial yung three points ni Renz para lumamang kami ng pito," Bautista further said.

Kapatagan looks to go 2-0 in the Mindanao leg as it goes up against Zamboang City on Friday.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno