RIYADH, 3 May — Dunkin Donut overcome the deficit to beat ABS-CBN 82-78 in the first game of the Filipino Basketball league held at the Eight Contracting compound Exit 12 here.
TFC-ABS-CBN had the momentum and intensity from the start of the game finishing 17-21 in the first quarter, 34-39 in the second quarter and 55-61 at the end of the third quarter. Coach Joel Magpantay and Marlon Hernandez relied on his productive guys like Farid Badawi who poured in 8 of his 24 point output in the last quarter; Butch Jose who sank a couple of triple jumper of his 17 points output, in the last minute of the third quarter in the game and Glen Pasumbal who had 12 of his 14 points output in the third quarter. Consistent conversion of points enabled them to maintain their lead until the last two minutes of the fourth quarter. Early in the fourth quarter Dunkin Donut started to play good defense and power play that limited the TFC ABS-CBN to 12 points in the eight minutes of the last quarter.
A combination of brilliant coaching by Mags dela Cruz and E. Gatbonton and exceptional team play enabled the donutmakers to recover a 6-point deficit and went on a dead lock two minutes and thirty-seven seconds in regulation. San Diego who had 8 points in the game sank a two point to gain a 2 point lead two minutes and one second remaining in the ball game. In the last two minutes of the game donutmakers converted four perfect offensive shots and was only match with 3 points in the charity area by Butch Jose and a two point shot by Badawi.
Policarpio who had 11 points of his 33-point output in the fourth quarter, have 8 rebounds, 1 assist and a steal, sank a two point shot and a charity to finish the game 82-72. R. Solis who had 5 rebounds backed Policarpio with 21-point output in the game. Proper execution of defense and offense by the donut makers in the last minutes was crucial in their bid to comeback even in the last minute of the game. TFC-ABS-CBN did a great job from the first to the third quarter of the game but the offense has been affected by the tough defense imposed on them until their offense stopped in the last minute of the game.
