With his team facing elimination, Christopher Isabelo stepped up to the plate, firing crucial points down the stretch to buoy Mandaue City to an 85-81 win over the Consolacion Sarok Weavers in Game 2 of the 2017 Cebu Governor’s Cup Under-21 Inter-Cities/Municipalities Basketball Tournament
North Division Finals last Monday night at the Consolacion Sports Complex.
Scoreless in the first three quarters of play, Isabelo fired 11 points in the final period, enabling Mandaue to bounce back from its 78-84 Game 1 loss and tie the series at 1-1.
The do-or-die Game 3 will be played tonight at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex.
Winner in tonight’s game will advance to the Governor’s Cup Finals opposite Minglanilla.
Minglanilla booked the first Finals ticket after sweeping Dalaguete in their North Division finale, 2-0.
Isabelo highlighted his endgame brilliance by firing three three-pointers in the fourth, the last one allowed Mandaue to tie the count at 74-all in the
final four-minute zone after starting the payoff period down by six, 57-63.
Isabelo punctuated his heroics by sinking two free throws in the final five seconds that iced Mandaue’s win.
Team captain Jancork Cabahug gave Mandaue a huge boost when he finally suited up after missing some games due to a foot injury. He scored 13
points in the opening period that ended with Mandaue ahead, 25-23.
Kenneth Brillo and Froilan Mangubat joined Cabahug in the scoring parade and Mandaue seized a 44-37 lead at the turn.
Consolacion took a six-point lead heading into the final period when Emmanuel Villamor, Brevin Keith Padayogdog and John Kirck Gonzaga sparked a 26-13.
Mandaue suffered a major blow when Cabahug was re-injured early in the fourth.
Even without Cabahug, Mandaue still took an 83-78 lead in the final 56 seconds left.
Consolacion threatened at 81-83 with 46 ticks remaining but bungled several chances of tying the contest, including a missed layup by Ken Gato in the final eight seconds.
Cabahug still topped Mandaue with 22 points. Mangubat pitched in 18 points, while Brillo and Gato delivered 11 each.
Villamor paced the Sarok Weavers with 25 points.
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