Reed Juntilla of the ARQ Builders dishes a layup during their game against the Dumaguete Warriors in the Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup. | Photo from VisMin Super Cup Media Bureau
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu City Heroes rode on the back of the rampaging veteran Reed Juntilla to beat the Dumaguete Warriors, 92-76, in their do-or-die quarterfinals match of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup, on Sunday at the Alcantara Civic Center in Alcantara town, southwest Cebu.
Juntilla had his best performance of the competition so far, tallying 33 points on an efficient 16-of-26 shooting from the field. The University of the Visayas (UV) product added seven rebounds and a steal to bring the Heroes to the semifinals.
“Reed Juntilla is Reed Juntilla,” marveled ARQ assistant coach Jerry Abuyabor of the crafty wingman. “He’s finally back! That’s the Reed Juntilla we have been missing for the past games.”
READ: Warriors advance after bruising, 67-65 win over Voyagers
Facing a battered and exhausted Dumaguete squad, who were coming off a 67-65 overtime win against the Tabogon Voyagers in the playoffs last night, ARQ seized the advantage in the third which they ended with a, 14-2, run to take a, 64-52, lead to the final frame.
The Heroes raised their lead to 15 early in the fourth, but the Warriors persevered and sliced the deficit to just six, 71-77, as Ronald Roy caught fire and scored 11 straight points, highlighted by three straight three-pointers.
However, the Heroes simply had too much firepower after Rino Berame scored on a putback and a short jumper to bring their lead back to 10, 85-75. Juntilla then hammered the final nail in Dumaguete’s coffin, hitting a triple from the wing to put ARQ up by 12, 88-76, with just 2:07 remaining in the game.
The victory gave ARQ the last ticket to the semifinal round where they will take on KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue on Tuesday at 6 PM, with the latter owning a crucial twice-to-beat advantage.
Ferdinand Lusdoc also had a huge impact in the victory by ARQ as also contributed 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Dawn Ochea chipped in 10 points, 7 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal, and 1 blocked shot.
Jerick Cañada masterfully orchestrated ARQ’s offense and compiled 12 assists while Hofer Mondragon was the team’s rock, hauling down 11 boards and 2 blocks.
“Our guards did a good job running on the transition. We give a lot of credit to Jerick, (John) Abad, and Rendell (Senining),” shared Abuyabor. “They were there to lead the boys to victory.”
Dumaguete, a squad that entered the playoffs as the fifth seed with a 2-8 slate, was paced by Roy, who had 30 points on an 11-of-22 shooting from the field and 8 rebounds.
Mark Doligon had 18 points, 6 boards, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block. The Warriors, though, missed the usual production of star guard Jaybie Mantilla, who managed just seven points on 2-of-10 shooting.
The Scores:
ARQ Lapu-Lapu (92)—Juntilla 33, Lusdoc 16, Ochea 10, Senining 7, M. Arong 6, Berame 6, F. Arong 6, Galvez 4, Cañada 2, Mondragon 2, Abad 0, Regero 0, Tangkay 0, Solis 0.
Dumaguete (76)—Roy 30, Doligon 18, Regalado 8, Mantilla 7, Monteclaro 6, Gabas 5, Tomilloso 2, Velasquez 0, Gonzalgo 0, Ramirez 0.
Quarterscores: 22-21, 40-42, 64-52, 92-76
/dbs
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