Thursday, July 17, 2008
Ronjay Buenafe Rifles in Marginal Basket to Keep Tigers’ Hopes Alive
Coca-Cola Tigers rookie Ronjay Buenafe saved their basketball team from elimination as has he sanked a clutch basket in the dying seconds. The Magnolia Beverage Masters got a chance to win it but Dondon Hontiveros' desperation three point shot did not hit the mark.
The Magnolia Beverage Masters were not able to finish off the Coca-Cola Tigers on Wednesday but I do hope they get the job done on Friday. If not, it's vacation time once again for us. I'm sure coach Siot Tanquincen will make the necessary adjustments on knockout Friday.
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COCA-COLA TRIPS MAGNOLIA, FORCES RUBBER MATCH
Buenafe rifles in marginal basket to keep Tigers’ hopes alive
Source: Philippine Basketball Association
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
ANTIPOLO -- Ronjay Buenafe banged in what’s easily the biggest basket of his basketball pro career thus far, keeping the Coca-Cola Tigers in the hunt for the 2008 Smart PBA Fiesta Conference basketball championship.
Buenafe drained the winning basket with 7.2 seconds left as Coca-Cola forced a sudden death with Magnolia Beverage Masters in their best-of-three quarterfinal basketball showdown with a 91-90 thriller of a win Wednesday night at the Ynares Center here.
The Magnolia Beverage Masters actually had a chance to finish off the Tigers but Dondon Hontiveros missed a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
"I didn’t say much before the battle, forgetting the Xs and Os. I just told the boys to just do their best, and they rose to the challenge," said Coca-Cola basketball coach Binky Favis.
"Same thing on Friday. For as long as we’re alive, we’ll be there fighting. We’ll maximize the one day rest to be ready for another basketball tough grind," Favis added.
The two teams figured in a fierce fourth-quarter basketball battle that wasn’t decided till the final buzzer.
The Tigers squandered double-digit spreads in the third quarter and flirted with disaster as they fell behind at 89-90 on a five-point binge by Amal McCaskill and Wesley Gonzales.
But the Magnolia Beverage Masters won’t complete the job with Buenafe saving the day for the Tigers on a tough jumper after faking off two defenders.
Hontiveros had a decent attempt in their final offensive thrust but his shot went a little strong, sending the Coca-Cola bench and the Tigers’ supporters to a frenzied celebration.
The Tigers lived to fight another day despite another mediocre showing from new basketball import Brandon Dean.
"I know Brandon has something to show, but he’s in a tough situation playing a knockout basketball battle right away," said Favis of Dean, who was good for only six points, four assists and two rebounds.
For the second straight basketball gamme, McCaskill showed up Jason Dixon only to see his efforts go to naught.
McCaskill churned out another double-double basketball gamme highlighted by a crucial sky hook, then a steal setting up Gonzales for the trey that made it 90-89 for the Magnolia Beverage Masters.
Three-pointers came aplenty in the payoff period with Alex Cabagnot firing away three, the last giving the Tigers an 89-85 cushion with 1:07 left.
Gonzales delivered big plays coming off the bench in the fourth quarter, counting a short stab and a charity in an 11-4 opening run in the fourth quarter that pushed Magnolia Beverage Masters ahead at 79-74. (NC)
The scores:
Coca-Cola 91 – Cabagnot 17, Dixon 16, Taulava 12, Belasco 11, Buenafe 9, Macapagal 9, Dimaunahan 7, Dean 6, Telan 4, Catli 0.
Magnolia 90 – McCaskill 19, Hontiveros 18, Ildefonso 13, Tugade 10, Cortez 9, Gonzales 6, Racela 5, Pena 5, Villanueva 3, Pingris 2.
Quarterscores: 23-22, 46-41, 70-68, 91-90.
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