Balasta scores winning basket as Staggs stun Renerey

Balasta scores winning basket as Staggs stun Renerey
Mart, 88 to 87 in Crosstown Auto-backed PSA League

Staggs escaped with an 88-87 victory over Renerey Mart when Aldwin Balasta scored the winning basket with a lay-up with only one second left in the 2019 Philippine Sport Association Winter League, January 13, at the Trinity High School gym.

Jose Lavapiez (No.22) of Staggs eludes Jumel Olmo (No.28) of Renerey Mart but finds himself being blocked by Eric De Leon (No.15) in the 2019 Philippine Sport Association-Crosstown Auto Centre Winter League, January 13, at the Trinity High School gym. Staggs won, 88-87.

It looked like victory was on its way for Renerey Mart when Jumel Olmo completed his free throw shots, 87-86 with 3.2 seconds remaining in the final quarter.

But a quick pass to Balasta made all the difference at the end.

Staggs leveled its record to five wins and five losses while Renerey Mart dropped to its third setback in 10 games.
Renerey Mart will face Ryan Paluca Mortgage, 78-74 winner over Simpurgo in the other game, for its next assignment.

Renerey’s Ian Gonzales was waxing hot, sinking six three-point shots, 58-47, 5:18 in the third quarter but he could no longer find his range as Staggs came up with a better defense on him.

With Gonzales’ gun cooling off, Gian Jumilla, Jose Lavapiez and John Salamat turned things around for the Staggs as they slowly grabbed the lead, 70-66, 6:35 left in the fourth quarter.

Then a see-saw battle started from there.

Nathan Roguel of Renerey completed a three-point play to give Renerey back the lead, 85-84, 23 seconds remaining but Staggs’ Jumilla answered back with a jumper, 86-84, 12.5 left. Salamat was forced to foul Olmo who equalized the game with his first three throw, 86-all and eventually the lead with his second gift shot but Balasta’s lay-up nailed the victory for Staggs with only one second remaining.

The PSA League, backed by Crosstown Auto Centre, is winding down with the final games set on January 27 at the Romero gym, according to PSA president Gary Perpetua.

Meanwhile, Perpetua said they will start their Spring League on March 9 and has received invitations to play in the Tri-City Invitational on April 6 in Red Deer and Calalo Invitational on May 18-19 in Calgary.

“We will prepare our teams and hopefully will score some big victories,” said Perpetua.

Photo by Moses Billacura | Alberta Filipino Journal

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