HAPEE BAGS D-LEAGUE CROWN ON THOMPSON’S HEROICS
Big time players came up with big plays in big moments.
And Earl Scottie Thompson proved Thursday he was one such player.
With Hapee trailing 90-91, time down to 27.5 seconds in overtime and Cagayan in possession, the reigning NCAA MVP completed a steal and put Hapee on top, 92-91. He then followed it up with another interception in the next Cagayan possession. Though Thompson missed both of his free throws, Ola Adeogun was there to haul the offensive board and recorded a split from the line.
Cagayan still had the chance to win the game, but Thompson was there again, blocking Don Trollano’s three from behind to seal the deal and steal the game for Hapee, as the Fresh Fighters swept the 2015 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup Finals with a 93-91 Game 2 overtime victory at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig.
“Sabi lang ni coach, i-pressure ko daw. Pag pressure ko, baka binigay na lang sa akin ni God. Nabasa ko na lang yung play,” said Thompson. “Akala ko tapos na, excited lang siguro ako mag-champion.”
A star at Perpetual Help, Thompson had to play a diminished role with Hapee, which is rock solid in every position. But he embraced his role with the Fresh Fighters for the sake of team chemistry.
“Yung role ko dito tanggap ko. Di ko kailangan umiskor. Sobrang saya ko lang kasi sunod-sunod yung blessing sa akin,” he said.
Hapee coach Ronnie Magsanoc was just elated with the effort given by Thompson, as he said, “Unbelievable effort by Scottie Thompson. I didn’t know kung ilan pa ang natitirang players ko, but their will to win ang nagpanalo sa amin.”
“I don’t know what happened. Ang bilis, pagtingin ko, kami na ang lamang. Yung nauna nga, panalo na kami, nawala pa. Tapos nung huli, panalo na sila, nanalo pa kami,” Magsanoc said, as he already braced himself for a possible winner-take-all Game 3.
Magsanoc missed the services of MVP Bobby Ray Parks for majority of the game after the conference MVP dislocated his right shoulder early in the first quarter. Garvo Lanete also suffered from cramps late, while Troy Rosario sprained his ankle in overtime.
“Medyo kinakabahan na ako. I was already looking ahead to Game 3, on how we’re going to beat them there and how we’re going to play without me knowing how many players I still have. Scottie saved the day for us,” the first-time D-League champion coach said.
Lanete led all Fresh Fighters with his 22 points, while Rosario held fort for Hapee with his 20 markers, nine coming in the fourth and overtime periods, that went along with his 13 rebounds.
Ola Adeogun also had a double-double with his 19 points and 12 boards. Thompson had another do-it-all performance with 11 points, five steals, four rebounds, three assists, and his lone big block for the game.
Moala Tautuaa had a chance to win the game in regulation with 10.0 seconds to go, but he could only muster a split from the line, tying the game at 82.
Baser Amer then had one last shot, but he muffed his jumper, sending the game to extra time.
The win marks a triumphant return for Dr. Cecilio Pedro and the Hapee franchise in the local amateur basketball scene after parting ways with the old PBL four years prior.
Galliguez finished the game with 18 points, nine coming in the fourth, and seven rebounds for Cagayan. Trollano also had 17 markers in the crushing defeat, while Tautuaa just missed out on a double-double with his 13 points and nine rebounds. (RL)
The Scores:
Hapee 93 – Lanete 22, Rosario 20, Adeogun 19, Thompson 11, Amer 7, Newsome 6, Dela Cruz 3, Elorde 3, Hayes 2, Parks 0, Long 0.
Cagayan Valley 91 – Galliguez 18, Trollano 17, Melano 13, Tautuaa 13, Austria 8, Celada 7, Tayongtong 7, Mabulac 3, Dilay 2, Flores 2, Salamat 1, Capacio 0, Santos 0.
Quarters: 16-17, 34-33, 68-65, 82-82, 93-91.
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