NLEX’s Sean Anthony tries to penetrate the defense of Meralco’s Reynel Hugnatan during the championship game of the Recoletos Invitational Cup at the USJ-R Coliseum (CDN PHOTO/RABBONI BORBON).
Sophomore guard Garvo Lanete came up big in overtime as he scored 14 points during that crucial stretch to power the NLEX Road Warriors past their sister team Meralco Bolts, 98-94, and capture the championship in the Recoletos Invitational Cup in a thrilling finale last night at the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R) Coliseum.
NLEX came all the way back from a 15-point halftime deficit and rallied behind Lanete, the younger brother of former University of the Visayas standout Von Lañete.
Lanete scored the team’s last 11 points, to give the Road Warriors the rousing victory in their build-up for the new PBA season, which starts later this month.
The Road Warriors seemingly had the win in the bag as they led, 83-80, after Mac Baracael split his charities with 5.6 seconds left. But the Bolts got their prayers answered as Baser Amer recovered a wayward pass near the midcourt line and banked in a three-pointer as the fourth period buzzer expired to knot the count at 83-all and send the game to the extra session.
Meralco drew first blood in overtime as Ken Bono nailed a baby hook to put them back in front, 85-83. But that proved to be the last time the Bolts held the lead as Lanete canned a three and, after a free-throw by Bradwyn Guinto, swished another shot from beyond the arc to give NLEX a 90-85 advantage.
Meralco pulled to within two, 88-90, after a transition bucket by Anjo Caram and a free-throw by Jonathan Uyloan but Lanete was unfazed and converted a tough baseline layup off a picture-perfect pass from Guinto to put them in front by four.
The Bolts kept the pressure on in the game’s dying seconds but Lanete kept them at bay by calmly making six straight freethrows down the stretch to seal the victory for NLEX.
Lanete led the winning team with 21 points while Raul Soyud added 19.
Amer scored 16 for the Bolts, who settled for runner-up honors.
In the first game, the Landmasters/ USJ-R Jaguars finished third place after defeating the University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers, 68-53.
The Landmasters were led by Tricky Peromingan’s 19 points while Michael Angelo Macion had 14 for the Green Lancers, who went winless in three games.
THE SCORES:
FIRST GAME
LANDMASTERS (68) – Peromingan 19, Mantilla 14, Enewenike 7, Catiloc 7, Dinolan 7, Villafranca 2, Navara 2, Gastador 2.
UV (63) – Macion 14, Napao 13, Suerte 10, Balabag 9, Maestre 5, Codilla 5, Saga 4, Sackor 3.