Johnson Salazar came through with 20 points and Ryan Hugnatan scattered 17 as Valiant Bank outlasted Davies Paint Probac, 93-92, in overtime Friday night to take Game 1 of their best-of-three finals series for the 7thTan Kek Pin Cup at the Po Hang Gym.

The Valiant cagers can take the crown if they prevail against Probac in Game 2, which was ongoing as of press deadline. Game 3, if necessary, is set tonight.

Powered by Salazar and Hugnatan, Valiant refused to wilt when all seemed lost as it overturned a 70-80 deficit with three minutes left in regulation to force overtime on Richard Verayo's buzzer-beating basket off Warren Alintano's botched free throw. Outplayed and outhustled in the extra-session, Probac were given a lifeline when mythical five member Peewee Demonteverde buried a triple with 28 seconds in overtime.

But after Valiant failed to score in the next possession, Probac could not buy a basket as Kirk Tupas, Mark Sabusap and Ryan Concha blew golden opportunities to snatch Game 1.

Center Leo Abao, the only Valiant player in the mythical five, was limited to six points but shone on the defensive end from the fourth quarter onwards. He managed to deflect Tupas' open jumper to preserve the win.

Alintano, Verayo and Bobby Cepeda combined for 25 points as Valiant overcame another stellar performance from Ryan Concha, who posted 29 points, including all of his team's 15 points in the second period.

But Salazar had the last say. The former Colegio de San Agustin standout kept Probac at bay with a triple from the right quarter court with 54 seconds remaining in overtime. It turned out to be Valiant's last basket in the game.

Probac also drew 13 points each from Sabusap, Demonteverde and third-quarter man Carlo Diaz. Kirk Tupas finished with 9.

Earlier, Province of Negros Occidental won third place by forfeiture over 2006 champion BBC.

Concha was also named to the mythical five, along with BBC's Joebert Pastias and Province's Rex Bayer. The second team is composed of Hugnatan, Alintano, Salazar, Mark Ramos of Province and former MVP Robert Buñol of BBC. *CPT

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