ADGERS SPORTSWEAR proved to be the steadier team down the stretch as they outlasted the CVIRAA Selection, 48-45, to move into second place in the standings of the 19-under division of the 2012 ThreeSixty Pharmacy Cup late Friday evening at the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu basketball court along Mango Avenue.
It was an intense, physical game as both squads fought to gain the crucial win heading to the semifinals, which commences tomorrow.
But Adgers had the steadier hand as Alex Nazareno and Allen Dimco sank a free-throw each in the game’s final moments to buoy their team to the win.
CVIRAA led early on and held a 28-24 lead at halftime but things fell apart at the seams for the Palarong Pambansa-bound team as they managed just a single point in the third canto, whereas Adgers ran off 13 of their own with Nazareno and Dimco accounting for nine of those to put them in front, 37-29.
Later in the second half, things took a turn for the worse as CVIRAA head coach Rommel Rasmo was called for a technical foul for ranting on the referees.
But that proved to be a wake-up call for the CVIRAA Selection as University of the Philippines-bound Julius Cadavis and Henry Asilum combined with Patrick Go to tie the game at 44-all with 38 ticks left.
Dimco gave the lead back to Adgers, 46-44, with a lay-up but Dawn Ochea had a chance to tie the match up as he was fouled while going up for a basket. He split his charites for a 45-46 score which then set off a ridiculous chain of missed free-throws and turnovers by the two squads.
Go actually had a chance to tie the game but missed two freebies with six seconds left. Dimco then sealed the deal with a split from the line as Asilum missed short on his heave from halfcourt at the final buzzer. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio