FIGHTING for dear life, Pasig City MCW Sports showed up with indomitable poise and grit to live another day against a favored Caloocan side three nights back.
A pep talk initiated by Pasig team owner Buddy Encarnado galvanized the fifth-ranked squad which rose to the challenge and pulled off a stunning 65-61 victory over No. 4 Caloocan in Game 1 of their South division best-of-3 quarterfinals showdown in the MPBL (Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League) Fifth Season.
“Our backs are against the wall. They are a much-experienced team, taller and most of all, they have the home court advantage,” Encarnado said, referring to Pasig’s gutsy triumph at the Caloocan Sports Complex. “But I told them (Pasig players) the key to overcoming all of this is playing with poise. You have to play with poise so that you can overcome pressure, so that your game will come out, your true form will come out.
“Luckily, the boys heeded my call and responded the way they played in front of a full stadium, 99 percent of which were from Caloocan,” he added.
Spitfire guard Robbie Manalang drained 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, including a backbreaking step back three-pointer that gave Pasig the lead for good.
A former Adamson University standout, Manalang also scored on a tough layup that made it a 62-58 game in the final 1:21. He also issued two assists.
Putting behind his offensive woes all throughout, star playmaker Ryan Costelo boomed in a clutch pull-up jumper that capped Pasig’s vicious 8-0 windup and atoned for a 69-71 decision in Game 1 last week.
Kenny Rocacurva added 16 markers, eight rebounds, and two dimes for the charges of coach Boyet Fernandez, while Costelo added eight points, three caroms, and three feeds.
The deciding third game will be played this Friday at the same venue, with the winner advancing to the race-to-2 division semifinals against the powerhouse Pampanga Giant Lanterns, who ripped the Marikina Shoemasters 81-61 to complete a 2-0 sweep in their Last Eight duel.
