Picpa 5, IBP-Gwapo game in Wednesday hoop ends in standoff

IN the showdown of winless teams, the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Gwapo cagers ended their game in a, 97-all double overtime standoff in the Wednesday Club-2012 basketball tournament at the Capitol Parish gym.

The teams were not allowed another five-minute extension because their time at the Capitol Parish gym already lapsed.

IBP-Gwapo led, 25-19 in the opening period then took a commanding, 46-36 advantage at the half before ending the third quarter with a huge 13-point lead, 73-60.

However, PICPA roared back to life in the fourth with a blistering, 26-13 run to end the first regulation period at 86-all on Edlin Endrina’s two freethrows.

In the first overtime, IBP-Gwapo’s Billy Cabilte nailed two freethrows for a 3-point lead, 97-94, with 1.8 seconds remaining. PICPA coach Norwin Honoridez then used their last time-out to plot their next play. A lightning-quick assist by Yoly Meso to Lito Ortiz allowed the latter to drain a buzzer-beating triple that resulted in the second deadlock at 97-all.

The second overtime will be played this Wednesday.

Bingo Matugas led PICPA with 14 points including four trifectas while Yoly Meso, Art Flores, Lito Ortiz and Edlin Endrina added 13 points each.

Bads Del Prado led IBP-Gwapo with a game-high 23 points while Mat Velez and Milky Villamor added 18 points apiece.

BOX SCORES

PICPA (97)- Matugas 14, Meso 13, Flores 13, Ortiz 13, Endrina 13, An. Yu 10, Talaroc 8, Alejandre 5, Ad. Yu 4, Salubre 2, Gonzales 2.

IBP (97)- Del Prado 23, Velez 18, Villamor 18, Sususco 17, Cabilte 12, Riveral 4, Calipayan 3, Craus 2.  /Correspondent Dale Rosal