Unheralded Joelano Bayuta preserved Joab Paglinawan and Raffy Salandino’s big game exploits with a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the closing seconds as RGCF Nesma Griffins squeaked past Abana 73-72 for its first win in the 15th UFBF Open Basketball Tournament last Friday at Al Qadisia gymnasium here.

Beaten 81-75 by Hummer Team three Fridays ago, RGCF of team manager Apolonio Lagdamin brought down gritty Abana drawing the biggest offensive game from Paglinawan, who pumped in 10 of his 26 points in the third quarter capped by his layup in transition that allowed them to level the match at 49-49 going into the last quarter. Salandino put in a big number as well as he finished with 25 points for RGCF while Carlo Lauban had 10.

Abana had a big game in the opening quarter with points coming from Rommel Lagasca, Crisalino Sarigumba, Gerald Gangoso and Jo Christian Bunagan en route to a 24-7 lead after one period. They still led the second quarter at 36-26.

With Paglinawan and Salandino doing the damage, RGCF took a 65-63 cushion but Abana countered with twos from Gangoso and Lagasca in the final two minutes in a tense battle that saw several deadlocks and lead changes. With Abana smelling victory, RGCF’s Bayuta launched a game winning triple deep down the left corner ending the RGCF slump.

Lagasca top-scored for Abana with 15 points, Gerald Gangoso and Crisalino Sarigumba each had 11 while Bunagan added 10 markers.

Coach Nelson Balilia’s Red Stallion suffered another setback to Al Rashed Good Year, 90-79, in Junior D5-A, and fell to 0-2.

Jun Moneva flashed his old brilliance to score 27 points including six of eight from the three-point area, while center Ireneo Racacho notched a career-best 30 points and 8 rebounds. Two other starters finished in double digit scores – Peter John Busalla (17 points) and Rodolfo Medina (11 points) for Al Rashed.

Rashed jumped out to a 13-5 lead with Moneva’s back-to-back triples and a jumper, while Racacho made his presence felt in the shaded area with 7 points in the first quarter. In contrast, Stallion had a string of errors a few times to allow Rashed to claim a 19-15 lead to end the period.

Moneva, finding his rhythm from beyond the arc, unleashed a couple of threes and Racacho a putback basket gaving Rashed a 24-15 spread at the beginning of second quarter. Six straight points from Stallion’s January Dimla and Adam Bengco cut the deficit to 24-21.

Rashed held a 62-57 lead after the third quarter.

With Rashed threatening to take control early in the fourth quarter, Moneva exploded from the three-point area again. Two straight triples from Moneva and Racacho’s inside incursions gave Rashed a 72-62 advantange midway in the last quarter.

Pol Blanca’s PCB Bulldogs were simply too strong in an 83-70 romp over Al Hoty Calibration in Junior D5-B. Gino Flores led the pack with 19 points while three other starters finished in double digits – Marvin Ceneza (13 points), Ben Patanao (12) and Roger Domasig (10).

After a fine start, the Calibrators yielded 9 straight points as Bulldogs finished 18-9 end of first quarter. Nelson Sambahon finished with 26 points, and Carlos Baguna had 24 markers but not enough to carry Calibrators to victory.

Other game results: Rawabi thrashed Mustang 85-56, Smart Pinoy beat Dento Plast Centers, 89-67, Al Tuwairqi defeated Kolokoyz, 71-59, Chilis edged Al Hoty Stanger, 49-44, while Mangiamo went down 77-62 to YSS for its second straight defeat.