Petron-Goldberry inches closer to crown after close win over RDAK

PETRON-GOLDBERRY is just one win away from repeating as champion as they escaped with a thrilling 54-53 win over the resilient RDAK Stallions in Game 1 of the Division A finals of the 20th Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) Cup on Wednesday at the Ateneo de Cebu basketball court along Mango Avenue.
Fiery guard Job Shan donned the hero’s cape for the defending champions as he sank a pressure-packed free throw with three seconds left that proved to be the game winner in the closely contested game.
Petron-Goldberry will gun for the crown in what is expected to be an intense Game 2 on Sunday afternoon at the Magis Eagles Arena in Canduman, Mandaue City.
It was also Shan’s heroics that sent the game to overtime as he fearlessly drove down the left flank and lofted up and in a layup that tied the count at 48-all at the end of regulation. He ended up with 13 points and five rebounds while wide-bodied big man Leigh Dixon added a double-double of 11 markers and 12 rebounds.
It was a wild and woolly series-opener that saw both teams fight tooth-and-nail.
The Stallions surged ahead early, 13-8, behind three triples by Jair Igna but the physical Petron-Goldberry squad imposed soon itself and took a 23-17 lead after a three pointer by Ed Macasling. Petron kept the momentum up and took a 10-point advantage at halftime, 35-25, as Marvin Roma swished in a jumper at the horn.
RDAK soon upped the tempo and scored 14 unanswered points to take a 39-35 lead after back-to-back transition makes by Igna and Lucky Ecarma. Petron-Goldberry regained its bearings and answered with seven straight to head to the fourth in front, 42-39.
Much like the start of the third, the Stallions galloped up and down the floor to frustrate their opponents with nine straight points for a 48-42 lead, 3:58 to go. All though, was not lost for Petron-Goldberry as Dixon split his charities, Roma canned a corner trey and Shan hit the tying lay-in. RDAK actually had a shot to win the game but Ecarma’s baseline jumper was off line at the buzzer.
The game was tied for the last time at 53-all after two free throws by Igna. But their hero soon turned to goat as he was called for a holding foul on Shan in the dying seconds that led to the game-winning free throw.
The loss laid to waste the incredible 32-point performance of Igna. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio