AFTER suffering two loses since the league’s return from FIBA break, the Meralco Bolts are back on track with their thrilling 126-123 double overtime win over NorthPort Batang Pier to keep their quarterfinals hopes alive.
Bolts head coach Norman Black was delighted with the no-quit attitude shown by his players despite encountering numerous obstacles in the match last Friday, including a 106-100 deficit in the finals 33 seconds of regulation.
“I am just happy that the players never gave up. There were stretches in the fourth quarter that looked dim for us. But we were able to execute plays to send the game into overtime,” said Black.
“That was a hard-fought game between two teams that are fighting for their lives to stay in the playoffs especially us. Good thing really we were able to force overtime and gave ourselves a chance to win it,” he added.
All seemed lost for the Bolts after trailing 106-100 in the final 33 seconds but were able to score three straight baskets, including an alley-oop shot from Clifford Hodge in the final seconds to send the game into overtime.
In the first extension, the Bolts trailed anew at 106-111 but came up with consecutive points to force another extension. In the second OT, Baser Amer rose to the occasion with back-to-back triples to finally clinched the win.
At 3-5, the Bolts were still very much alive in the playoffs but will have tough matches along the way against Rain or Shine Elasto Painters (March 15), Alaska Aces (March 20) and Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings (March 27).
BEST CENTER BASKETBALL CLINIC
Ilonggo and Capiznon junior basketball players will get a taste of the best and most scientific clinic of the Milo’s Basketball Efficient Scientific Training (Best) Center this summer.
Ronnie Degala of BEST Sports Iloilo said that basketball clinics are slated from April 22 to 27 at the Dinggoy Roxas Civic Center in Roxas City, Capiz and from May 6 to 11 at the Ateneo de Iloilo gym in Mandurriao, Iloilo.
The basketball clinic session is set to be divided into four levels namely preparatory level for five to eight years old with P4,500 registration fee and levels one, two and three for those nine years and above where registration fee is pegged at P4,000.
The will also be limit in number of campers with 16 per class in the preparatory level, in level 1 30 per class in the 9 to 11 years old and 40 per class in 12 years old, and 40 per class in levels 2 and 3.
“In Milo BEST Center, we formulate a proven scientific way of teaching children afar from the simple knowledge of dribbling, shooting and other known skills in the game of basketball,” Degala said.
“Training with Milo BEST Center will enhance the skills of the learner more differently than the usual way of learning basketball,” he added.
BEST Center is the longest running basketball clinic founded by coach Nic Jorge in 1978. It has produced a number of basketball greats in LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings and NLEX Road Warriors’ Larry Fonacier and Kiefer Ravena./PN
