By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Hubert Cani converted a go-ahead basket late in the second overtime as the Negros Muscovados pulled off an 86-84 escape over the Pasay Voyagers in the 2024 MPBL Season at the FilOil EcoOil Arena in San Juan City on Thursday night, April 11.

With the score tied at 84-all, Cani surged the Muscovados ahead for good as he drilled a step back jumper from near the free throw area against the defense of Voyagers’ Cyrus Tabi with seven seconds left.

The Voyagers still had a chance to snatch the victory, but Laurenz Victoria was forced to make an awkward three-point attempt from the corner by the tight defense of the Muscovados.

Cani, who came off-the-bench late in the game to replace Yvan Ludovice, finished with four points, four assists, one rebound, one steal, and a block as the Muscovados improved to a 2-0 win-loss slate.

Jeremy Cruz led the way for the Muscovados with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, Jefferson Comia added 17 markers, while James Una and Mark Atabay ended with 13 and 10 points, respectively.

Down by as much as 11 points in the first quarter, the Muscovados slowly clawed their way back until they took a 51-45 lead late in the third quarter after two free throws by Comia.

The Muscovados continued their momentum in the fourth quarter and were up 70-66 with more than a minute left, but back-to-back conversions from Pasay’s AJ Coronel and Patrick Sleat sent the match into the first overtime.

In the first extension, the Voyagers managed to take the lead thrice courtesy of baskets from Victoria, but the Muscovados responded with three connections as well as for a 76-all count.

In the second overtime, Cruz caught fire for the Muscovados with back-to-back three-pointers for an 82-79 lead, but the Voyagers tied it with three free throws from Coronel.

Negros’ Alvin Capobres and Pasay’s Jasper Salenga then traded hits for an 84-all count.

Victoria top-scored for the debuting Voyagers with 23 points.

Salenga, Sleat and Warren Bonifacio ended with 13 markers apiece, while Coronel finished with a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds./ASC, WDJ

NEGROS 86 — Cruz 22, Comia 17, Una 13, Atabay 10, Palma 6, Ludovice 6, Mahinay 4, Capobres 4, Cani 4, Antiporda 0, Ramos 0.

PASAY 84 — Victoria 23, Bonifacio 13, Sleat 13, Salenga 13, Coronel 10, Reverente 8, Chan 3, Caballero 1, Iñigo 0, Tabi 0, Ramirez 0, Aguirre 0.

Quarterscores: 11-20, 37-39, 51-50, 70-70, 76-76, 86-84.