By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Team Big Roys by Robejes Wonders played inspired basketball and forced a do-or-die Game 3 after outdueling Alvin’s Fitness Center, 72-64, in Game 2 of the 2022 Iloilo City Basketball Club (ICBC) second conference grand finals.
After struggling to buy some counter baskets in the crucial stretch of the second half during Game 1, Big Roys’ gunners quickly blitzed their way to some early points to help their team grab the early lead.
Dexter John Lacanaria, one of Big Roys’ reliable scorers, bounced back from a four-point Game 1 performance and shot the lights out during their Game 2 win.
Lacanaria’s six first-quarter points paced Big Roys’ fluid offensive rhythm throughout the game and ended with 15 big points.
John Rey Madulin was also a man on a mission as Big Roys’ savvy scoring machine was all over the place burying his signature one-handed floaters while sinking several open treys.
Big Roys’ offensive efficiency helped them pile up their biggest lead to 19 points while also capitalizing on team Alvin’s shooting woes.
Just when Big Roys thought they would snowball the game in the last remaining quarters, team Alvin’s resiliency rose to the occasion and uncorked a momentum-clinching 13-0 run to trim their deficit to just five points.
Alvin’s walking bucket Ken Deniega led the surge and scored 11 of their 13 unanswered points built from three treys and a layup.
After finding their offensive spark, team Alvin’s finally erased Big Roys’ lead and deadlocked the ball game in the final frame.
However, Big Roys answered back with a clutch five-point swing which ended with a cold-blooded three-pointer from Dacks Galvez.
Team Alvin’s fell short in the last stretch of the final quarter and let Big Roys get away with the Game 2 win.
Both teams will meet again today for the highly-anticipated do-or-die Game 3 to be held at the Monterosa Subdivision basketball gym, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
