Former pro Lou Regidor leads Legends to crown

FORMER pro Lou Regidor pulled his 1985 Legends from the jaws of defeat and brought them to the promised land as he scored an improbable jumper as time expired to beat the feisty 1993 Dragons, 70-69, in Game 2 of the Division 1 finals in the University of San Carlos North Alumni Basketball Conference Sinulog Cup on Sunday at the USC North Campus gym along Mango Avenue.

All seemed lost for the Legends as they blew a 61-58 lead with 10.4 seconds left in the fourth and gave up a straightaway three-pointer to Roy Jumao-as to tie the game at 61-all and send it to overtime.

With momentum on their side, the Dragons surged ahead, 69-68, after two free throws by Jumao-as and appeared headed to the series-tying victory as they regained possession after Batch 1985’s Emil Mercado was called for travelling.

The Dragons had a shot to extend their lead as lefty big man Bong Eleazar was fouled and sent to the line with 1.9 seconds left on the clock. But he missed both, setting the stage for Regidor’s heroics.

Mercado inbounded the ball from the opposite baseline and found the former draft pick of San Miguel in stride.

Regidor rose up from a step inside the three-point arc and swished in the game-winning basket, much to the dismay of the Dragons and to the delight of the latter’s teammates.

Regidor was a one-man wrecking crew as he scored 37 points while Marc Tan added 11. Batch 1985 has been truly a dominant force in their division, having won 18 titles in 20 tries in this competition.

The Dragons were led by Jumao-as’s 17, the 16 of John Soon and the 14 of Jade Ylanan.

Aside from being named MVP, Regidor also snagged a spot in Division 1’s Mythical Five along with Eleazar and Jumao-as of Batch 1993, Edmund Odulio of the 1988 Barakos and Hector Lawas of the 1990 Titans.