DAMMAM, 17 May — National Pipe Company poured everything it got in the fourth quarter and blasted Sigma Paints, 77-55, to force a winner-take-all in the premier category of the Eastern Province Basketball League’s 2002 Open Conference best-of-three championship series at the Al-Nahda Club.

Former Bulldog, Romwell Lampitoc, outscored the entire Sigma five in the fourth period to lead the pipemakers in leveling the series 1-1 as he pumped in 11 of his team-high 22 points in the penultimate period while Sigma was limited to a record-low 8 points.

“The game plan worked. We got them guessing about our offensive patterns”, said coach Gil Rivera after fielding a smaller All-Filipino line-up as starters. “We respect the load of talent they (Sigma) have but its quite intriguing why they failed to break our zone defense althroughout the match.”

For his part, team captain Ernie Baggay attributed the win to a tongue-lashing they received from NPC management after losing Game 1. “We played a so-so game last time around and the management took notice of that so they talked to all of us individually. They told us about the importance giving 100 percent effort — even before the game, our energy level was so high and it flowed on the court.”

Jumping to a 10-0 lead right from the opening tip on a breakaway anchored by the high-leaping Edgard Bucalin and youngster Jordan Sinio, the Pipe Makers didn’t look back as the undermanned Paint Masters struggled to find the form that won them Game 1. “Our newcomers are explosive scorers. Its just a matter of time till they find their touch and get accustomed to cage environment here”, said NPC’s Dante Del Valle.

Cirio Medel, who will miss Game 3 due to repat, finished with 23 points for Sigma but failed to muster scoring support from his teammates when NPC put on a triple-teaming defensive clamps on him for a complete shut-out in the fourth period.

On the other hand, team manager Henry Domingo smilingly quipped, “There goes all our title hopes. We knew how strong NPC is and with a depleted line-up only a miracle can stop them from crushing us in Game 3. But who knows?” “It’s not bad to start setting our sights on the next conference”, Domingo added.

Other pipemakers who drilled in double figures were Baggay with 13, Murhaf Abdul Mohsin with 14 and Bucalin with 10. Sigma’s Game 1 heroes, Art Palima, Sergio De Asis and Ramil Zarandin combined for a low total of 22 points.

Earlier, Bong Garcia shook away the memory of a dismal performance in Game 1 to lead Tibay III in a pulsating win over title-hungry Saudi Ready Mix, 97-90, in Game 2 to arrange a rubber match in League B of this tournament jointly sponsored by LBC Makati Express and Phuket Restaurant.

After trailing at 22-23 in the first quarter, the troika of Garcia, Choylo Poblete and Abe Alonzo ignited a 14-3 blitz to end the second period with a 51-41 while Ferbie Caburao joined the scoring spree in the third period with two clutch treys.

Lady luck smiled at Tibay when SRM’s Rolly Bisda and Rod Cayanan fouled out in succession with more than seven minutes left in the match. With Bisda out, brothers Francis and Marlon David carried the scoring cudgels for the Mixers and even managed to provide a scare with just under two minutes left when Francis sank an off-balanced shot amid three defenders to threaten at 91-87.

David’s basket came as a wake up call though for Tibay as the boys of Rhodee Cariaso uncorked a 6-3 windup to secure the win.

SRM lost to Dhahran International Hotel and NPC in its first two trips to the finals since joining the league in 1999.

In Division II, Al-Turki Corporation (ATCO) relied on their last second defensive stop to beat Hempel Paints Kings, 88-86, in Game 2 of their title series to finally bag a crown in this prestigious tournament.

After Melchor Pascua’s split from the line with 4 ticks left for a precarious 88-86 advantage, Hempel’s final play got muffed by ATCO’s defense as Ruel Jocson was forced to throw a hurried lay-up overshooting the rim.

“All our sacrifices paid off”, said 14-year-old team manager and captain Nawaf Al-Turki.