A pair of imports justified their selection by their teams when AACI Transport and Chemisolutions hammered out tight victories at the start of the Fil-Sino-All Asian Countertrade Inc. Group of Companies Inter-color basketball tournament at the Po Hang Gym of Bacolod Tay Tung High School.

Reinforcement Richard Verayo nailed two triples from the left quarter court in the final 10 seconds and AACI Transport upset Basecom, 84-83, in a game, where it never led until the final five seconds.

In the first game, import Donald Quilantang made a rousing debut for Chemisolutions, leading the team to an 84-81 triumph over JSY Transport/Unitra. The former West Negros College Mustang finished with 18 points, 10 coming in the fourth quarter, and made a crucial steal off his counterpart, Ritchie Militante, late in the game to help seal the win.

Quilantang nearly blew the victory when he missed two free throws off a Militante foul but Sukrahj Sekhon missed a triple at the buzzer.

Patrick Echarri and Militante carried the fight for JSY in the final period, overhauling a 50-62 deficit only for Quilantang to spoil their night.

Also playing solid was former St. La Salle Stinger Robbie Jalando-on, who picked up 10 points, including six in the fourth period, and Brian Tan, who had 16.

The trio of Julius Teruel , Patrick Echarri and Ritchie Militante had 17 apiece, while Garret Tabanao and Sekhon Sukhraj added 12 and 9, respectively.

Basecom looked headed for the win, after posting a 77-66 cushion with 3:30 left. But Verayo, who registered 13 markers and RB Chua combined for seven free throw conversions, before a Bobby Yap triple cut the lead, 81-76.

Another breakaway layup by Bol Manaloto, after Basecom reinforcement Deno Soriano split free throws made it a four-point game, 82-78.

Then, came the first of Verayo's two back-breaking triples. Anthony Chua managed to make 1 out of 2 free throws as a response, giving Verayo an opportunity to provide his team a Cinderella finish.

RB Chua and Bobby Yap tallied 17 points each and Verayo added 13, Manaloto 10 and Joe Giganto and Matthew Yap chipped in 8 apiece.

Basecom drew 18 points from Soriano, 14 in the fourth quarter. Antonio Rogacion contributed 14, Daniel Chiu 12 and Michael Ang 11. *

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