By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Conrad Catapusan converted a game-winning triple as the Iloilo United Royals pulled off an 89-86 stunner over Bacoor City Strikers in Game 1 of the 2023 MPBL Southern Division first round playoffs at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor, Cavite on Saturday night, October 7.
With the score tied at 86-all after a split free throw by Strikers’ Chito Jaime, Catapusan banked in a three-pointer from beyond the arc to surge the United Royals on top for good at 89-86.
Catapusan finished the game with nine points and two rebounds as the United Royals completed their fightback from 23 points down to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three first round series.
“I just trusted what I can do and nadala lang din sa laro na buti na lang na-shoot,” Catapusan said.
“Tsamba na lang din ‘yun eh, buti pumasok and I am very grateful. [The] job is not yet done, we will try to reach the finals,” he added.
Down 60-37 to start the third quarter, the United Royals relied on consecutive triples from Lorenzo Navarro, Marlon Basco, Joshua Flores, Andrey Armenion, and Shaquille Imperial to tie the score at 63-all.
Baskets from Flores and Omar Larupay gave the United Royals a 69-66 advantage, but the Strikers quickly regained the lead at 72-69 via back-to-back triples from James Kwekuteye and Jhan Nermal.
The United Royals answered with baskets from Navarro, Catapusan and Larupay as they took an 80-75 lead, but conversions from Strikers’ Kwekuteye and Aaron Jeruta regained them an 83-82 advantage.
Iloilo came back with two straight baskets from Jeffrey Ryan Ongteco and Imperial to give them an 86-85 lead before Bacoor knotted the score for the last time on a split free throw by Jaime.
Navarro led the way for the United Royals with double-double 16 points and 14 assists. Flores added 14 points and 10 rebounds, Ongteco and Imperial had 13 and 12, respectively, while Larupay had double-double 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Nermal top-scored for the Strikers with 23 points, including five triples. Kwekuteye also ended up with 23 markers, while Yvan Ludovice and Jaime finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
ILOILO 89 — Navarro 16, Flores 14, Ongteco 13, Imperial 12, Larupay 10, Catapusan 9, Armenion 7, Basco 6, Sumido 2, Guion 0, Nunez 0, Javelosa 0.
BACOOR 86 — Nermal 23, Kwekuteye 23, Ludovice 11, Jaime 10, Yee 9, Eguilos 4, Jeruta 2, Alday 2, Jamito 2, Pasturan 0, Lee Yu 0, Lopez 0, Villoria 0.
Quarterscores: 19-31, 37-57, 69-66, 89-86./ASC, WDJ