Host PTI dials up championship

Kelvin “The Big Hit” Fitial lived up to his name hitting big shots in the stretch to power PTI to an 80-70 title win over Autonomous in the Inaugural PTI Inter-Government/Business Basketball League Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Fitial scored eight of PTI’s last 11 points in the remaining three minutes, 51 seconds of the game to foil Autonomous’ bid to force a deciding Game 2. PTI enjoyed a twice-to-beat advantage in the finals after going undefeated in the playoffs.

Autonomous had several chances to send the title showdown to Game 2, but failed to capitalize on those opportunities with Ed Diaz on the bench.
Diaz was disqualified in the game due to five fouls with less than a minute left in the third period and spent the rest of the match coaching Autonomous. But ATM needed his scoring prowess more than his game pointers, as the dethroned champions played catch-up most of the way.

After Diaz fouled out, majority of the spectators thought PTI will have a walk in the park, but ATM continued its never-say-die attitude and even tied the game twice.

The first time was at 66-all, with 6:54 left in the fourth period. ATM could have seized the lead, but Ponce Rasa split his charities.

A triple by Elmer Esdrelon broke the deadlock, but Autonomous quickly countered with Chris Camacho making an under-goal stab to cut the lead to one, 68-69, with less than five minutes left on the clock.

Rasa had a chance to put ATM in the lead, but missed his layup, while Camacho muffed another opportunity for Autonomous to take back the driver’s seat when he was called for a charging foul against Fitial.

In the ensuing play, Fitial was fouled and split his free throws giving PTI a two-point cushion, 70-68, but Autonomous tied the game anew when Camacho redeemed himself and canned a layup.

That was the last time the game was deadlocked, as Fitial took matters in his own hands, making clutch shots.

He first made a pair of free throws to give PTI a 72-70 advantage, with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter.

ATM called a timeout, but failed to execute their play when Camacho missed on his drive against Bruce Berline. PTI missed, too, giving possession back to ATM, which muffed another game-tying basket with Richard Brostrom’s fastbreak layup finding its way out of the hoop.

There was a battle for a loose ball after Brostrom’s miss and PTI won, sprinted to its frontcourt, and setup its half court offense wisely killing a few seconds off the clock before Fitial nailed a clutch trey.

Fitial, who rarely attempts from downtown and made only one trey in the first three quarters, drilled a back-breaking triple from the left key with the 24-second shot clock winding down, increasing PTI’s lead to five, 75-70.

ATM made one final push to force Game 2, but Tim Wesley missed two free throws, while Fitial answered with two charities to seal PTI’s title win.

Fitial finished with 26 points in a game that was physically played, as bodies fell on the floor several times keeping the three referees busy mopping the wet floor.

Ponce Rasa topscored for ATM with 26 points and was the lone Autonomous player to score in double figures. Diaz was held to eight points—a far cry from his 27-point output against NMC in the semis—as he was hobbled by early foul trouble. Diaz was whistled for two fouls in the first period and was called for two more in the second.

Bobby Coldeen, who had 13 points against NMC, also had an off-night, making only five points with one triple. Wesley chipped in eight and was not able to contribute heavily on offense, as he kept himself busy holding his ground against PTI’s Twin Towers—Fitial and Berline.

Wesley eventually fouled out with 20 seconds remaining in the game, as he was charged with an unsportsmanlike foul for hitting Ryan Sanciangco on the neck. Earlier in the fourth quarter, Wesley and Sanciangco exchanged heated words after they got tangled up in a fastbreak play. Sanciangco was called back to the bench to cool things off and only returned midway in the fourth period.

PTI 80 – Fitial 26, Esrelon 15, Mendoza 13, Sanciangco 10, Berline 6, Renguul 3, Yamada 2.

Autonomous 70 – Rasa 26, Aaron 9, Diaz 8, Wesley 8, Brostrom 7, Camacho 6, Coldeen 5.

Scoring by quarters: 27-23, 45-36, 63-60, 80-70.

Referees: Gabriel White, Dado Vistal, and Arnold Mesa.