Ralph Atienza scored a basket with one second left as Smart clawed back from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Lucena City, 76-75, recently in the Nokia National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) D-League at the Bethel Gym in Lucena City.
Atienza’s fourth point of the game preserved the game-long brilliance of teammates Jonjon Hernandez (13 points), Mari Cueto (12 points) and Paolo Mari Cueto (10 points) for the team’s 2-1 card in this under-18 tournament backed by Nokia Philippines and TAO Corporation under the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas headed by Manny Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala.
Darrel Villaruel and Andrew Caracot fired 19 and 14 points, respectively as Lucena City absorbed a third straight loss in the tournament also supported by San Miguel Purefoods Company, Smart Communications and Burlington.
Karis dealt QPL a first loss in three games by posting a 93-82 win to tie their victims and Smart. Charles Duco and Mac Lester Valencia each posted 12 points for Karis while Cerolliz Alcala and Ralph Losloso had 14 and 10 points, respectively.
The Nokia NBTC D-League is envisioned to be a feeder program for varsity squads and teams catering to leagues such as the UAAP, NCAA, Philippine Basketball League, Philippine Basketball Association and the Liga Pilipinas.
The league now has 108 teams backed by commercial and local government units. After the inter-city and regional finals, the national finals will be held in May at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
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