MANILA – ARQ Builders Lapu-Lapu Heroes leaned on Reed Juntilla’s hot hands to wallop Dumaguete Warriors, 97-76, in the do-or-die quarterfinals of the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas VisMin Super Cup Visayas leg on Sunday at the Alcantara Civic Center in Cebu.
A former standout of the University of Visayas, Juntilla showed his best performance for the Heroes so far with 33 points on an efficient 16-of-26 shooting from the field.
The 36-year-old guard, who had stints with Air21 Express, Meralco Bolts, Barako Bull, and NorthPort Batang Pier in the Philippine Basketball Association before, completed his stellar evening by hauling seven rebounds and grabbing a steal.
From a seesaw battle in the first two quarters, the Heroes created a gap from the Warriors in the third period after unloading a 14-2 scoring blast to earn a 64-54 advantage.
Lapu-Lapu continued to build a 15-point lead at the onset of the fourth period but Dumaguete clawed its way back to within 71-77 after an 11-0 scoring spree by Warriors’ Ronald Roy.
That, however, was the last stand of the Warriors as the heroes relied on inside hits of Rino Berame and Juntilla’s outside conversions to stretch the lead to 88-76 with over two minutes left.
Apart from Juntilla, Ferdinand Lusdoc also delivered the goods for Lapu-Lapu with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists while Dawn Ochea chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds.
The victory allowed the Heroes to advance to the semifinals round and will battle KCS Computer Specialist-Mandaue tonight with the latter armed with a twice-to-beat advantage.
Roy scored 30 points and eight rebounds, while Mark Doligon added 18 points and six boards as the Warriors bowed out of contention at fifth place.
BOX SCORE:
LAPU-LAPU 92 – Juntilla 33, Lusdoc 16, Ochea 10, Senining 7, M. Arong 6, Berame 6, F. Arong 6, Galvez 4, Cañada 2, Mondragon 2, Abad 0, Regero 0, Tangkay 0, Solis 0.
DUMAGUETE 76 – Roy 30, Doligon 18, Regalado 8, Mantilla 7, Monteclaro 6, Gabas 5, Tomilloso 2, Velasquez 0, Gonzalgo 0, Ramirez 0.
QUARTERSCORES: 22-21, 40-42, 64-52, 92-76./PN
