Previous Story
Loving Hands escapes Star Water in OT
Loving Hands earned its season debut win in the One Pacific Promotional Basketball League 2020 in a thrilling fashion after nosing out Star Water in overtime, 67-64, last Monday at the Civic Center Court.
Adi Tabora scored 6 points in the extension, including the dagger triple at the buzzer to crush Star Water’s hopes of sending the game into the second overtime. Tabora finished in double figures with his 13 points, 9 of them came in the combined fourth and extra periods.
With the opposing teams playing only in their first game of the season in Pool A, both squads were sluggish on offense, as neither hit twin digits after the first 10 minutes of play. Star Water clung to a 9-8 lead after the first canto behind the deuce of Michael Cabanas.
Loving Hands and Star Water picked up its scoring a bit in the second period, but it was another close match as the first half ended in a deadlock, 26-all.
Tabora, who was scoreless in the first half, made Loving Hands’ first two baskets in the third period, while Jun Fidelino and Jimboy Kintz also hit a couple of shots. Star Water, on the other hand, drew contributions from Elmer Esdrelon and Ron Gamboa, and the team remained in contention with Loving Hands hanging on to a 42-41 lead at the conclusion of the third canto.
In the fourth period, it was still a seesaw battle and the game was back to square one at the end of regulation with Loving Hands making three free throws for the tie and Esdrelon also delivering clutch baskets for Star Water.
Loving Hands went on to have the last say in the neck-and-neck tiff, thanks to Tabora’s game winner.
Loving Hands 67—A. Tabora 13, Kintz 13, Fidelino 12, Factor 7, J. Tabora 6, Hernandez 4, Tengco 4, Javier 2, De Guzman 2, Torregoza 2.
Star Water 54—Esdrelon 23, Barbo 13, Cabanas 9, Gamboa 8, Marzan 2.
Scoring by quarters: 8-9, 26-26, 42-41, 58-58, 67-64 (OT).
