Heroes advance to semis with close win over Mariners, 73-69
ARQ Builders’ Dawn Ochea scored 21 points in leading the Heroes to a pulse-pounding, 73-69 victory over the stubborn Tubigon Bohol Mariners. | Photo from the VisMin Cup Media Bureau.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu City Heroes leaned on the heroics of Reed Juntilla and Dawn Ochea to eliminate the Tubigon Bohol Mariners, 73-69, in their knockout quarterfinals game of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, Saturday at the Alcantara Civic Center, Alcantara town, southwest Cebu.
The Heroes were up by as much as 17 points, 53-36, in the third period but the Mariners were able to cut their deficit to just four, 61-65 inside the final two minutes of the match.
However, Ochea grabbed a miss by Juntilla, drew a foul, and made two free throws to give ARQ a six-point cushion. Juntilla then made baskets on consecutive possessions to put ARQ ahead by 10, 71-61, with 1:01 left on the clock.
The Mariners did not quit easily as Jerry Musngi answered with a couple of buckets to trim the deficit again to six, 65-71.
However, Ochea sealed the Heroes’ victory after scoring two points from the paint.
The Heroes will take on the winner of the Dumaguete Warriors -Tabogon Voyagers game slated at 7 p.m. tonight.
“All of us will stay behind to watch and scout the second game. We only have less than 24 hours to prepare for the next game,” said ARQ assistant coach Jerry Abuyabor.
Ochea, a former Adamson Falcon, led ARQ with 21 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block while Juntilla chipped in 16 markers, 10 boards, two assists, and a steal.
Rendell Senining and Jojo Tangkay added 10 points apiece with the former adding six rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
All four players who led the Heroes to victory served their respective suspensions due to their involvement in the botched game on April 14, 2021, against the Siquijor Mystics.
Meanwhile, Pari Llagas led the Mariners, piling up a game-high 22 points. He also had 12 rebounds, an assist, a steal, and three blocks.
THE SCORES:
ARQ Lapu-Lapu (73)—Ochea 21, Juntilla 16, Senining 10, Tangkay 10, Berame 6, M. Arong 2, Abad 2, Mondragon 2, Regero 2, Galvez 0.
Bohol (69)—Llagas 22, Marquez 12, Casera 10, Leonida 9, Musngi 8, Ibarra 6, Tilos 2, Tangunan 0, Dadjilul 0.
Quarterscores: 20-10, 39-30, 57-44, 73-69. /rcg
Related story: ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu Heroes bomb Tabogon Voyagers in VisMin Super Cup
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