By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
From 16 competing teams, we’re down to just two.
It’s championship round season in the ongoing LEPRECHAUNS x TUNESQUAD basketball league and we’re in for another exciting hoops treat, ladies and gentlemen.
The championship stage is now all set as team ODM/Dois Seafood Monsters will be squaring off against team BR Garcia Construction/Dakada Café Brewers in the highly-anticipated best-of-three finals series to kick off today, at the Green Meadows East basketball gym in Iloilo City.
Team ODM/Dois capped off its championship qualifying campaign with a thrilling overtime victory over STATVS/PABO/RNBJ Warriors in the bracket finals stage, 104-101.
Despite letting their lead slip away in the later quarters of the game, ODM/Dois managed to claw their way back in the final frame after converting on crucial baskets.
With the explosive trio of Inno Miclat, Rush Rubin, and Joshua Mana-ay leading the way for ODM/Dois, their firepower proved to be too much for RNBJ as they just steamrolled in the extra five minutes of the crucial game.
It was Miclat who energized the early ODM/Dois scoring rally after draining eight three-pointers, steering his squad to a narrow lead in the first four sets of the game.
However, RNBJ trimmed their deficit and eventually snatched away the lead when their threes started to fall backstopped by their interior post-plays.
RNBJ was close in pulling off the win after they held a seven-point lead in the final three minutes of the game but the duo of Rubin and Mana-ay supplied the much-needed points that forced overtime.
In the overtime period, RNBJ once again took the early lead after sinking two buckets but Mana-ay went on a personal 7-0 run that propelled ODM/Dois to the championship round.
After scoring an and-one play and a fast break layup, Mana-ay then iced the game in the final 30 seconds after cashing in the clutch jump shot from the top of the key.
Mana-ay’s tremendous outing helped him earn the Best Player of the Game honors as he stuffed the stat sheets with 34 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Meanwhile, team BR Garcia/Dakada Café made their grand finals entry after outdueling the Ewoks Airsoft Station, 92-82.
After a nip-and-tuck affair in the first few sets, BR Garcia/Dakada Café found their momentum in the final two quarters, ballooning their cushion to double digits.
Jhed Paquingan was in the zone against Ewoks as the veteran shooting guard dropped 20 markers on them, to go alongside seven rebounds and six dimes.
Game 1 of the LEPRECHAUNS x TUNESQUAD grand finals will take place today, at the Green Meadows East basketball gym at 7:30 PM.
