Deno Soriano kept his nerve from the free throw line and conjured a late defensive gem as Talisay Basketball Club's narrowly escaped Province of Negros Occidental, 90-89, yesterday at the start of the 8 th Tan Kek Pin Memorial Basketball Cup at the Po Hang Gym.

The former Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod Eagle went 8-of-10 from the stripe in the final quarter, before foiling Jessimar Gabihan's last-second jumper to give Talisay the head-start in the class A division.

There was little between the two teams and even until Soriano's split from the charity line that pegged the final score and his defensive heroics, the game could have gone either way.

Talisay seemed headed for a breakaway when it took an 8-point lead midway in the final period, before Marlon Tala-tala turned the tide with a couple of triples followed by a Frederick Premaylon lay-up to tie it at 83.

Ryan Hugnatan's triple was equaled by Tala-tala for another deadlock at 86. Split free throws from Antonio Dela Peña and Joemel Garrido was cancelled out by Joseph Arenas' putback, making it 88-all.

After trading free throws with Arenas, Soriano was fouled with 3.1 seconds left, sending him back to the stripe, where he nailed the go-ahead basket.

Talisay opened the first quarter with aplomb, taking a double-digit lead as Gobo Belicina and Hugnatan provided the spark.

But Province unleashed a 13-0 blast in the first three minutes of the second period capped by a Tala-tala triple for its first lead, 27-26.

Gabihan and Celis delivered 8 apiece in the quarter as Province settled for a 39-36 cushion at halftime.

Talisay came out with all guns ablaze in third quarter with Sonny Katipunan joining forces with Garson Junto, who shot three triples for a 68-64 lead heading into the final period.

Katipunan matched Soriano's 12-point output while Hugnatan and Junto picked up 11 apiece. Dela Peña, another former Eagle, added 10.

Tala-tala and veteran Rex Bayer finished with 17 points each to pace all Province scorers.

The class B showdown between BACIWA and Marko Metals was ongoing as of press deadline. Rentas Knights were to play Davies Paints late yesterday.*CPT

back to top

Servania brothers lead Pta. Taytay charge
Seven-in-a-row for WNC booters
Talisay cagers nip Province