Panabo City – The Nippon Paintmasters proved to be a steadier costumer at the free throw line in the fourth quarter as they sank free throws with ease while the heavily favored RFC Financiers missed more than a dozen of its freebies during crunch time in a game that live up to its hype, securing a 78-73 win, Saturday (October 5) in the ongoing RBL (Relampagos Basketball League) Board Members Cup 2019 at the Barangay Salacion gym.
The Paintmasters started the game like a house on fire with spitfire J. Alcoy leading the charge scoring all of his eight points in the opening canto enroute to a 25-16 lead before the RFC Financiers made a run of their own cutting the lead down to just a single point, 33-34 in the second canto.
Thanks to Josh Torillo’s effort as he scored nine points for the Financers to cut the lead at the half, 37-43.
The Paintmasters took much of a catch-up role in the third before the Financers had one last run in the fourth for an up close, 73-74 cut. An offensive foul called on a streaking Keith Cabaluna on a timely hit on Felix John Estorioso resulted to missed freethrows that foiled their chances for a possible upset.
Estorioso led the Paintmasters with 13 points to go along with three rebounds, two assists and a steal for their second win while Shane Humoc had the Financers going with seven points and seven rebounds to go along with two assists and three block shots.
In the other match, the CMO Mandirigma easily dismantled Fiscals-PNP Tagausig 114-87 for its second win with sniper Alexander Calindas leading the way with 23 points noting 15 in the first five minutes of the game for a 30-20 lead and never looked back.
Tagausig mainman Reil Campado also had a season-high performance with 47 points with 20 coming in the final canto for another break in the league’s scoring record but on a losing effort.
The RBL Board Members Cup was founded by Atty. Jigs Relampagos and PAO District Head Atty. Arvin Relampagos with Jek Melendres as Commissioner, John Michael Demain as Head of Technical Committee and Renato Jun Dionglay as RBL event and graphic designer.
RBL Board Member Cup Team Standings
Bracket A W – L Bracket B W – L
CMO 2 0 Nippon 2 0
KD 1 0 RFC 1 1
DnD 0 1 PDEA 0 1
Fiscals/PNP 0 2 HOJ 0 1
