Jorem Morada of Basilan Peace Riders floats in mid-air while attempting an acrobatic shot during their game against the Zamboanga Sibugay in the VisMin Super Cup. | Photo from VisMin Super Cup Media Bureau.
CEBU CITY, Philippines— The BRT Basilan Peace Riders upset the favored Zamboanga Sibugay Anak Mindanao Warriors behind the heroics of Julz Julkipli,75-73, in the last day of eliminations in the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Mindanao Challenge on Friday evening, December 10, at the Pagadian City gymnasium.
Julkipli scored a putback from Dennis Daa’s missed jumper in the final seconds of the fourth period to deny the Warriors a twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals that will begin tomorrow.
The Peace Riders finished the elimination round with a 5-7 (win-loss) record at sixth place while the Warriors capped their elimination round campaign at fifth place with a 6-6 (win-loss) slate.
Their opponents in the quarterfinals will be determined later tonight.
Basilan started the fourth period with a 17-4 blitz to turn a,53-55, deficit into a 70-59 lead with five minutes remaining.
However, the Warriors retaliated with an 11-1 run topped by Shaq Imperial’s three point shot from the right wing to inch within one,70-71, with 2:10 left.
Basilan’s Dennis Daan then scored a jumper to stretch Basilan’s lead to three, but the Warriors’ Michole Sorela nailed a corner triple to tie the game at 73 all with 30 seconds left.
Julkipli then nailed his game-winning putback in the ensuing play.
“Yun ang sinasabi namin sa kanila go for the rebound parati kasi kailangan namin. Si Daa talaga option namin pero sabi namin kailangan natin ng offensive rebound,” said Basilan head coach Ron Jalmanzar.
(That is what we told them to go for the rebound always because we really need that. Daa was really our option but we told them that we need the offensive rebound.)
Daa tallied 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting to go with four rebounds to lead the Peace Riders.
Jorem Morada had 10 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals, while JC Luciano had eight points and 13 rebounds.
Jan Jamon paced the Warriors with 13 points while Imperial chalked up 11 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals against four turnovers.
Rhaffy Octobre made 10 points but went 4-of-15 from the field.
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