By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Iloilo United Royals were pushed to the limit by the Laguna Krah Asia Heroes before they escaped with a 57-55 victory in the 2023 Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) at the Laguna Sports Complex on Saturday night, July 22.
Down 54-55 after a three-pointer by Heroes’ Jerome Garcia, the United Royals snatched the lead at 56-55 with over a minute left following an inside hit by Joshua Flores from a pass by Lorenzo Navarro.
Following several misses by Laguna on the next possession, the United Royals had an opportunity to widen the advantage, but Flores only drained one of his two freebies for a 57-55 lead with five seconds left.
The Heroes still had their last chance to snatch the victory, but Garcia misfired from his top of the key three-pointer while Paolo Quiminales missed his potential game-tying basket.
Flores finished the contest with seven points, on a dismal 3-of-16 field goal shooting, to go with six rebounds and a steal as the United Royals improved to a 9-12 win-loss slate for eighth place in the Southern Division standings.
Conrad Catapusan tallied nine points and 13 rebounds to lead the United Royals, while Navarro, Ryan Arambulo and Omar Larupay each contributed eight markers in the close win.
The United Royals caught fire early with a 12-4 start behind back-to-back triples and an inside hit by Navarro, but the Heroes clawed their way back to take a 19-14 advantage early in the second quarter.
The Ilonggos regained the lead at 22-21 midway in the second period on back-to-back treys by Arambulo before they went on to establish a 34-29 edge on connections by Flores and Catapusan.
However, the Heroes kept on cutting the United Royals’ lead for a 49-all score before Iloilo took a 52-49 edge via a JR Sumido triple, but Laguna banked on outside shots by Ilonggo Jason Celis and Garcia to take the lead for the last time at 55-54.
Paolo Pontejos top-scored for the Krah Heroes with 14 points, including two outside connections, while Garcia added 13 points with three three-point hits as they fell to a 3-18 record.
ILOILO 57 — Catapusan 9, Navarro 8, Arambulo 8, Larupay 8, Flores 7, Imperial 6, Ongteco 3, Basco 3, Sumido 3, Javelosa 2, Madrigal 0, Armenion 0, Guion 0.
LAGUNA 55 — Pontejos 14, Garcia 13, Pallares 5, Santiago 5, Celis 5, Quiminales 4, Mescallado 4, De Vera 3, Dedicatoria 2, P. Añonuevo 0, Matias 0, Mendoza 0.
Quarterscores: 12-11, 28-26, 44-42, 57-55./ASC, WDJ