Cabalen forces do-or-die Game 3

Drawing inspired performances from its frontcourt players, Cabalen-RP Construction leveled its best-of-three finals series against SIP-Flor A. Miranda for the championship of the Budweiser-Coca Cola 6th Annual UFO Inter-Organizational Basketball League at a game apiece.

Cabalen made seven straight free throws after SIP took a 79-77 lead with 5:25 to go in the ballgame and then leaned on crucial plays by slotman Dalewin Cortez to carve out a morale-boosting 99-85 victory Sunday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

The heroics of the Kapam-pangans’ big men provided a fitting bookend to the team’s effort throughout the ballgame.

The backcourt duo of Ed Palma and Randy Arnedo provided the kind of start sidelined playing-coach Elmer Pineda wanted, as the two scored nine points in the first quarter to help Cabalen to a 21-16 lead.

SIP pint-size guard Robert “Onyok” Tamondong, however, caught fire in the second and strung together 11 straight points, nine from beyond the arc, to lead the team’s comeback.

Despite nine points from Cabalen veteran forward Ronald Delos Reyes, SIP inched closer and were down by just a bucket, 40-42, at the half.

Cabalen started the third quarter with more resolve and repeatedly broke SIP coach Rufino Aguon’s vaunted trapping defense.

SIP also didn’t help their cause by complaining excessively to the referees, resulting in them getting a couple of technical fouls from official Noel Delos Reyes.

Aided in part by their opponents’ mental lapses, Cabalen built several 11-point leads, the last one coming on an eye-in-the-sky play from Palma to the normally earth-bound Delos Reyes, which put Cabalen up 65-54, 3:35 left in the quarter.

But just when everyone thought Cabalen would run away with the lopsided victory, SIP tightened its defenses, forced several turnovers and hurried shots and in a wink of an eye was back in the ballgame.

A nifty layup by Elmer Esdrelon made it a 3-point game and a steal and a hard drive by swingman Peter Mendiola—with an extra free throw coming—put SIP in a position to level matters at 69-all with 25 ticks left in the quarter.

Although Mendiola would miss the charity and ex-SIP Sonny Ranola would convert on a floater to make it 71-68 for Cabalen, Mendiola would atone for his missed free throw by hitting two to make it 71-70 in favor of Cabalen with a quarter to go in the match.

Both teams went at it full throttle in the opening minutes of the payoff period, but SIP appeared to get the better of the exchange. A rebound and a putback by Rick Alegre tied the count at 77-all with time down to 5:58.

In the ensuring play, however, SIP’s Edsel Mendoza was whistled for his fifth and final foul, and although Junar Guiab would give the team a 79-77 lead in its next possession, Mendoza’s ouster proved to be the beginning of the end for SIP.

Sans its only legitimate big man, SIP was clobbered off the boards and was forced to foul Cabalen players in four straight possessions.

Coach Pineda’s boys took advantage of the free throws awarded to them, cashing in on seven of eight attempts that gave them an 86-79 lead with 3:43 left in the contest.

Esdrelon retaliated with two hits of his own from the 15-foot line, but it was too little, too late, as Cabalen already had the momentum.

Eric Dalangin got free for a point-blank basket, Cortez sandwiched two baskets with a crucial block on Mendiola, and Dalangin again soared for an uncontested fastbreak layup, as Cabalen avenged its Game 1 loss with a 14-point victory.

Cortez was a man among boys, collecting 25 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks. Dalangin was also equally impressive finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists en route to being named MVP of the game.

Mendoza led SIP in the loss with 17 points and eight rebounds. Esdrelon also came up big with 15 points and three assists.

Cabalen 99 – Cortez 25, Delos Reyes 18, Dalangin 18, Arnedo 12, Palma 10, Ranola 8, D. Barbo 4, Ocampo 3, Mungcal 1.

SIP 85 – Eds. Mendoza 17, Esdrelon 15, Guiab 13, Tamondong 11, Garcia 6, Flores 5, Edm. Mendoza 4, R. Alegre 4, Factor 4, Mendiola 4, Villacrusis 2.

Scoring by quarters: 21-16, 42-40, 71-70, 99-85.

Referees: Arnold Mesa, Dado Vistal, Noel Delos Santos.