Star blows thriller on late MLQU putback

MANILA, Philippines - Jopher Custodio scored on a putback as time expired as Manuel Luis Quezon University nipped the Star Group, 80-78, to seize the early lead in the MBL Invitational basketball championship at the Lyceum gym in Intramuros Tuesday night.

Custodio’s game-winning basket came after Dennis Rodriguez of Star Group tied the score for the last time at 78 on a triple with 10 seconds left and Alvin Vitug of MLQU missed a contested jumper from the right corner.

But the 6-3 Custodio eluded his guard and darted from nowhere for the winning putback against a slew of Star defenders at the buzzer, stealing the win for MLQU, which surged ahead of the field with a 2-0 slate.

The Starmen slid to 1-1 in the two-month long tournament supported by Smart Communications, Dickies Underwear and PRC Managerial Services.

Custodio finished with a game-high 20 points for the Quiapo-based team, which debuted with a similar come-from-behind 73-72 win over Lyceum last week.

Vitug scored 19 points, Roy Urbano added 12 and Erick Dizon contributed 10 for the Stallions.

Rodriguez led the Star Group with 18 points while Ver Roque fired 17 points and Jong Bondoc and Lester Reyes added 15 and 10 points, respectively.

Wang’s Ballclub, meanwhile, survived Philippine Air Force, 82-72.

Former Talk n Text player Jonathan Aldave scored 17 points for the Mandaluyong-based squad.