THE Minglanilla Archangels squandered a 26-point lead and was forced to labor hard in overtime before beating the Dalaguete AgriSaurs, 98-90 Sunday night, and snatch the championship crown in the South Division of the 2017 Cebu Governor’s Cup Under-21 Inter-Cities/Municipalities Basketball Tournament at the Dalaguete Sports Complex.
The Archangels swept the best-of-three series, 2-0, and advanced to the Governor’s Cup Finals where a whopping P500,000 cash purse awaits the winner.
Minglanilla will next face the winner in the North Division Finals between the Consolacion Sarok Weavers and Mandaue City. Consolacion leads the race-to-two series, 1-0.
Marc Glen Nebril saved the Archangels from a huge collapse when he dropped a three-pointer that tied the contest at 82-all with 3.5 seconds left in regulation.
Nebril even had the chance to win it in regulation for Minglanilla after he was fouled while attempting the three-pointer but missed the bonus free throw.
Nebril and his younger brother Mark Justin keyed Minglanilla’s strong start that saw them racing to an early 32-9 lead.
Minglanilla posted two 26-point leads, 47-21, and 51-25, in the first half but Dalaguete roared back and cut the deficit to just 12 points, 43-55, behind an 18-4 run to end the first two quarters of play.
With momentum on its side, Dalaguete came out firing in the third and zoomed ahead, 67-66.
The two squads figured in a see-saw battle in the fourth but Minglanilla finally found a way to escape with the win when Dalaguete failed to convert a single field goal in the extension period.
Marc Glen Nebril paced Minglanilla with 26 points, Jan Mangaron donated 19, Mark Justin Nebril chipped in 17 and Jiesel Tarrosa contributed 15 points.
Erickson Sangoyo scored 28 points for Dalaguete while John Mark Pagula added 16. Frederick John Selerio and Earl Justine Balbuena delieverd 13 apiece for the losing Southern finalist.