By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
DPWH gunners got the better of the Uniwheels Cars Display, 90-87, in the action-packed Game 2 of the Mayor Jerry P. Treñas Dinagyang Basketball Cup.
The arrival of DPWH import Sanjo Landry proved to be the difference-maker in the game as he commanded his matchup with Uniwheels’ import Prince Eze underneath and proved to be the formidable force for DPWH offensively.
DPWH dictated the pace early on as Landry was wreaking havoc with the Uniwheels’ interior defense, leading 28-20 by the end of the first frame.
Things would make a turn for the worse after Uniwheels scorer Chris Loyola got called for his fourth foul in the second quarter, leaving his team’s offense vulnerable.
But despite Loyola’s early foul trouble, the veteran smarts of Aming Doliguez helped them get back on track and stay within striking distance, sinking a hail mary trey from near half-court to help Uniwheels cut DPWH’s lead to 3 going into the fourth, 66-69.
The last frame went into a toe-to-toe affair as both teams traded scoring runs, with 3 lead changes in the last quarter.
Stepping up in the most crucial situation, DPWH guard JR Dulce was in takeover mode, sinking two clutch jumpers that sealed the victory for them, including his cold-blooded step back trey with 1:37 left that pushed the lead to 9, 87-78.