Numancia escapes with overtime win against Banga, forges rubber match
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan – Numancia held the defending champion Banga scoreless in overtime to pick up an 81-66 win in Game 2 of the 2010 Governor Carlito S. Marquez Inter- Municipal Basketball Cup last night.
Banga blew a five-point, fourth-quarter lead as the Numancia went on a 9-4 run and forced overtime with two minutes left in the game.
Tournament MVP Samuel Ignacio contributed four points in the extra period to finish with 17 points. Jomar Vega added 23 while Mikael Ray Reyes scored 14 points for Numancia.
Lody Tirazona, who scored 3-of-6 three pointers of Numancia, gave his team its first lead with a 3-pointer from the left corner for a 54-57 edge with 5:15 remaining.
Ten seconds after, Banga struck right back with two straight triples courtesy of Most Improved Player Mark Anthony Nabor and Best Guard Ricky Ricafuente.
Ricafuente drew a foul with 2:21 left in the game and canned two charities to extend the lead, 62-57. But Numancia closed the gap behind Ignacio’s driving lay-up, 62-59.
Ricafuente was at the foul line with 1:26 remaining in the regulation play. He made two free throws to gain a 64-59 advantage. Vega scored a 3-pointer to cut Banga’s lead to 64-62. It looked like Banga would clinch the victory in regulation after Ricafuente’s uncontested layup gave Banga a 66-62 lead with 30 seconds remaining.
Ignacio responded with consecutive baskets including a put back from the right side with seven seconds remaining, to send the game to overtime, 66-66.
In the extra minutes, Numancia jumped out to an early start and built a 15-point lead as the reigning titlist struggled, missing all its 11 shots in the overtime.
Ricafuente converted only 2-of-8 attempts from the three-point area and scored 14 of the team-high 24 points in the final canto. Jhoey Alacar added 13, Reynan Ricaforte contributed 12 points and Quimpo had 10 for Banga.
Other awardees of the annual basketball cup were JR Manuel of Ibajay (Best Center), John Rey Dela Cruz of Ibajay (Best Forward), Mikael Ray Reyes of Numancia (Sportsmanship Award) and Mark Deza of Kalibo (Best Guard).
The rubber match between Numancia and Banga resumes at 2 p.m. on April 26 at the Gov. Augusto B. Legaspi Memorial and Sports Center.

The scores:

Numancia (81) – Vega 23, Ignacio 17, Reyes 14, Tirazona 11, Latina 10, Conanan 4, Isturis 2

Banga (66) - Ricafuente 24, Alacar 13, Ricaforte 12, Quimpo 10, Nabor 5, Reloj 2

Quarterscores: 20-19, 34-31, 49-44, 66-66, 81-66