Cavite hands Mantawi first loss in NBC hoop

The resurgent Far Eastern Insurance-backed Cavite Insurers posted their third straight win on the road after escaping with a nerve-wracking 89-87 win over the erstwhile unbeaten Mantawi Sparkling Knights in the 2005 Panasonic-NBC National Championship on Tuesday night at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex. Game today

Meanwhile, Cavite will seek its place in the league history when they play the Skygo/Sirlitz-backed Tribu Sugbu at 7 pm tonight at the Minglanilla Sports Center.

The defending champion Tribu Sugbu, owned by businessmen Lito Gillamac and Mario King, holds a clean 14-0 record at home dating back last season.

Cavite, on the other hand, was the first team this season to deal Ozamiz and Mantawi their first home losses. If the trend continues, the Tribesmen are in danger of tasting their first defeat at home in this regionalized cage league.

The Insurers, who led by as many as 14 points, 38-24, midway through the second canto, now improved their win-loss record to 5-4. Cavite controlled most part of the game, which saw three deadlocks and five lead changes.

Melvin Mamaclay, Tristan Codamon and veteran forward Buboy Rodriguez saved the Insurers from the verge of collapse as they combined for the team's last 10 points, even as they got some help from Mantawi's Ardy Larong, who missed potential tying free throws in the last 2.4 seconds to eke out the scary victory.

"It's all heart. The team's willingness bailed us out," said Cavite coach Segundo "Bong" de la Cruz.

Trailing by 11 points, 77-66, with three minutes into the fourth period, Larong and Aries Gloria keyed a 14-0 run by the Hapee/Dewfoam-backed Knights to take the lead, 80-77, at the final 4:25 mark of the game.

Cavite tied the game for the last time on Marvin Ortiguerra's basket, 83-all, with 1:38 left. A turnover by Larong set up Mamaclay for a wide open triple that broke the tie, 86-83. Another basket by Mamaclay sandwiching Ronald Capati's charity split extended the lead to four, 88-84, with 27 ticks remaining before the final buzzer.

Mantawi, supported by Mandaue Mayor Thadeo "Teddy" Ouano, staged another daring comeback when Marvin Tundag nailed a long three-pointer in the last 8.1 seconds to cut the deficit, 87-88, as the big partisan crowd erupted into frenzied celebration.

Larong, who had a game-high 22 points, had a chance to send the game into overtime when Codamon only split his free throws but the 6-foot-3 banger's first attempt rimmed out. He intentionally missed the second but Rodriguez grabbed the loose ball.

It was the first loss in four games for Mantawi in the tournament.

Mamaclay wound up with 19 points, nine coming from beyond the arc, and seven rebounds to pace Cavite. Codamon added 17 points, five boards, four assists and one steal, while Rodriguez logged in his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds on top of four assists and two steals.

The scores

Cavite (89) - Mamaclay 19, Codamon 17, Rodriguez 15, Abadia 6, Sierra 5, Ortiguerra 4, Attunaga 3, Camañag 3, Piodo 2

Mantawi (87) - Larong 22, Capati 20, Gloria 15, Tundag 11, Moreño 7, France 5, Carretas 3, Limbo 2, Huelar 2 Quarterscores: 26-20, 51-44, 69-64, 89-87.