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| Jammer Jamito was clutch. MPBL |
BATANGAS CITY—Jammer Jamito hit the eventual winning basket as sixth-seeded South Cotabato repulsed third-seeded Biñan, 85-82, in Game 1 of their MPBL South Division quarterfinal affair on Thursday night at the Batangas City Sports Coliseum.
Jamito scored on a layup with 50.2 seconds left to put the Warriors ahead, 83-82, as he made Marc Pingris pay for a failed steal attempt that gave him enough to operate inside the paint.
"Kung ano ang role ko sa team ko, gagampanan ko para makatulong ako sa team," said Jamito, who finished with 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, and three blocks.
In a relatively high-scoring game, the defense decided both teams' fate.
Right after scoring the go-ahead basket, Jamito blocked Carlo Lastimosa's floater attempt with Felix Apreku grabbing the rebound, although the latter split his charities off Pingris' quick foul.
South Cotabato dodged a bullet as Pamboy Raymundo's three-point attempt rattled out, but the team kept the door open for Binan to force overtime as Marwin Dionisio also went 1-for-2 from the foul line.
Dionisio made up for his free throw miss by blocking Kenny Rocacurva's three-point attempt, eventually leading to KG Canaleta's ejection from the game after he confronted Dionisio's taunt on Rocacurva.
With one of Tatak Gel's top three-point options out for good, they rested their laurels on Robbie Manalang to force overtime.
However, his triple attempt only hit the front rim, and Nico Elorde grabbed the game-saving rebound for the Warriors.
Mark Cruz led South Cotabato with 24 points on a perfect 6-of-6 field goals including 3-of-3 on threes, two rebounds, and three assists off the bench.
Rocacurva also tallied 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting with six rebounds, two assists, and four steals for Binan.
Now 2-0 overall in their season head-to-head, the Warriors can eliminate the Tatak Gel next Thursday at the latter's home, the Alonte Sports Arena in Binan.
Box Scores:
SOUTH COTABATO 85 - M. Cruz 24, Jamito 16, Acuna 14, Apreku 7, Elorde 6, Dionisio 5, Benson 4, Dumapig 4, Calvo 3, Rodriguez 2, Tolentino 0, Mahaling 0, J. Cruz 0, Lantaya 0, Landicho 0.
BINAN 82 - Rocacurva 24, Raymundo 13, Lastimosa 11, Maestre 9, Canaleta 8, Pido 7, Pingris 3, Gimpayan 3, Grey 2, Alabanza 2, Lopez 0, Anonuevo 0, Actub 0, Manalang 0, Alonte 0.
Quarterscores: 17-21, 32-39, 58-64, 85-82
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