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| Lean Martel nearly cost Pasay its first-ever MPBL playoff win. MPBL (file photo) |
QUEZON CITY—Pasay needed overtime to draw first blood against Meycauayan Marilao in the MPBL Playoffs with a 66-64 win on Friday night at the Andres Bernos Memorial Gymnasium in Bangued.
However, the center of discussion among basketball fans was right at the last play of the game when the Gems got upset over what looked like a missed goaltending call on Voyager Lean Martel.
Looking to go for the win, Jimboy Pasturan nearly fumbled Agem Miranda's pass, buying some time for the Pasay defenders to keep Pasturan at the tight corner and forcing him to take a tough one-legged three-pointer that went over the rim.
Jayson Apolonio secured the offensive rebound and quickly tried a putback, but Martel grabbed the net during the follow-up play, which did not sit well with the Meycauayan Marilao bench.
King Gurtiza took the game-saving board and ran out the remaining second.
The referees reviewed the play and cleared Martel of committing a goaltending infraction, as the officiating crew deduced that the ball had already bounced out of the rim when he grabbed the net.
The Gems accepted the decision and conceded the match with no grudge.
This was not the first time this season that an MPBL game ended with a bizarre basket interference, as Batangas City's Will Yambing was found guilty of a buzzer-beating goaltending call that gave Cebu the win instead in their April 23 meeting.
Yambing was primed for a revenge game as he fired 23 points for the Athletics, but the Greats still prevailed 78-77 in their division quarterfinal series opener on Wednesday night.
Christian Fajarito and Lennard Santiago each had 12 points to lead the Voyagers, who finally won a playoff game for the first time since joining the MPBL during its second season.
Miranda had 15 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and one steal, while Apolonio added 13 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block for the Gems, who need to win Game 2 at home on Thursday night to keep their season alive.
Meanwhile, Abra crushed Quezon City at home for a 106-54 win in their own playoff first-round opener.
DJ Fenner put up 19 points, two rebounds, four assists, and four steals in nearly 19 minutes to lead the Weavers, the number one seed overall in the MPBL Playoffs.
Dave Ildefonso and Raven Gonzales each added 14 markers, with the latter adding a whopping six blocks.
Kobe Monje also tallied 14 points along with five rebounds and three assists to lead the Black Bulls.
Game 2 of both best-of-three round-of-16 series will be played at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium in Malolos on Thursday night.
