Ol’Aces vs Sonics in finale

The Ol’Aces’ Aiferson Atan, left, challenges the defense of the Rollers 1’s Jun Alipio during the second half of their semis game in the Tan Holdings holiday caging yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)

The Ol’Aces played steadier in the homestretch to pull off a 57-54 victory against Rollers 1 in their semis game in the boys U19 division of the 2015 Tan Holdings Christmas Basketball Tournament yesterday at the Gillette Multipurpose Gymnasium.

Nak Nakashima knocked in a pair of free throws in the last 3.3, while the Rollers’ Mike Arciaga missed a desperation trey, allowing the Ol’Aces to escape with the close win and set up their winner-take-all title showdown against the Sonics tomorrow.

Nakashima’s pair of free throws came after he muffed his first two attempts from the foul line with the Ol’Aces holding on to a 55-54 advantage. He stepped into the stripe first in the last 6 seconds of the game and after going 0-for-2, there was a battle for the rebound and one of the three players contesting for the ball tapped the leather toward the right corner of the court in front of the Ol’Aces bench. Nakashima then picked up the ball ahead of John Darag and Arciaga and the latter was forced to foul the former to stop the clock.

When he returned to the foul line, Nakashima this time delivered the clutch free throws, leaving Rollers 1 without a choice, but to heave for a triple to send the game in overtime. With no timeout left, Arciaga went for the quick inbound and threw a long pass intended for Jethro Cruz at the right sideline. However, Dennis Moses leapt for the interception, nearly colliding with Cruz midair and tapping the ball out. With the clock at .09 of a second, Cruz did another quick inbound and passed the leather to Arciaga, who threw up a prayer from the sideline, but his banked shot was way short hitting just the board.

It was a sorry loss for the Rollers 1, who had the psychological advantage against the Ol’Aces going into the semifinals following its 53-49 win in the elimination.

Moses led the Ol’Aces upset against Rollers 1 after scoring 14 points, including back-to-back baskets that give his team cushion after Rollers 1 forced a standoff, 46-all. Moses shots were from all putbacks. Wildredo Francisco added a layup after Moses’ two straight baskets, while Dalton Dancoe hit two charities to keep the Rollers in the game, 48-52, going into the last two minutes of the match.

The opposing teams then traded turnovers in a couple of plays, while the Rollers muffed important free throws that could have changed the outcome of the game. Cruz and Dancoe combined for 0-for-4 before June Alipio made a pair to move Rollers 1 within 2, 50-52. An incomplete and-1 play from Moses gave and a split from Aiferson Atan gave the Ol’Aces a 55-50 advantage, which Cruz brought down to 3 after nailing and off-balance shot.

Cruz had a chance to tie the match after Atan lost possession at the baseline with Arciaga and Darag pressuring him, however the former missed on his daredevil drive and the Rollers 1 was pressured to give up a couple of fouls to stop the clock.

Meanwhile, the Ol’Aces-Sonics title tiff will be played at 7:30pm after the 6:30pm championship game in the women’s division between Sun Palace and Lob City.

Ol’Aces 57—Moses 14, Norita 12, Nakashima 9, Atan 6, Castillo 4, Cristobal 4, Francisco 4.

Rollers 1 54— Arciaga 9, Darag 8, Cruz 8, Deocares 7, Factor 6, Dancoe 6, Alipio 5, Ellama 2, Kwon 2.

Scoring by halves: 26-24, 57-54.