With the championship trophy on the line, a three-point play completed by Ritchie Militante allowed Huminova Tigers to key their victory against AACI Trading, 80-77, and bring home the Class A crown of the Fil-Sino All Asian Countertrade Inter-color Basketball Tournament at Bacolod Tay Tung High School Po Hang Gym, Friday night.

In the Class B titular showdown, Basecom eked out a 77-72 win against the hard fighting 7-man Royal Star Trading lineup to be the tournament’s best team in their division.

The final game between Huminova Tigers and AACI Trading was highlighted by a nip and tuck battle in the payoff quarter with RB Chua hitting a top of the key trey to give the Tigers a 76-75 lead.

In transition, Arnol Laureño fished the fifth and final foul of Chua and canned the two gift shots to give the lead back to the Trading guys.

With AACI Trading’s defense focused on Yan Yan Dy as he slashed through a a heavy traffic of inside, he opted to pass a nifty assist to a cutting Militante for a layup plus a foul. Militante converted the free throw for a 2-point Tigers’ lead.

With 3.4 second left, a costly dibbling error from AACI Trading and a free throw from Dy sealed the win for Huminova Tigers as Gustilo missed on a triple.

Early in the game, Laureño won his inside battle against Militante, 17-10, in the first quarter as AACI moved ahead, 23-20. Militante earned three fouls in the first 10 minutes of the game to put the Tigers on the edge.

RB Chua scored 11 points, equaling the output of AACI as the Tigers posted a 45-34 lead at the break. Emil Guanzon delivered eight points for Trading.

Arvin Gustilo produced 14 points as Trading drew closer at 64-61. Militante was forced to sit down as he committed his fourth foul in the third quarter but Charlton Ong was there to carry the scoring load for the Tigers.

Chua paced the Tigers with 20 points, while Militante added 15 points. Charlton Ong finished with 12 markers, Yan Yan Dydelivered 9, Mark Binguan hit 7 points, Raul Javelosa and Joel Masadya scored 6 points each.

Laureño sizzled with 27 points for AACI Trading while Gustilo tallied 15 points, Guanzon picked up 12 points and Bol Manaloto with 8 points,

In Class B championship match, Basecom, with its 13-man lineup, was well on their way of blowing away Royal Star for the third and final time, getting ahead 36-13 in the early minutes of the second quarter.

But Errol Su known for his defensive prowess, surprised Basecom when he racked up 11 straight points as the lead went down to 38-30 at the break.

Su and Jolly Castillo combined for 13 points in the third quarter as Royal Star continued to crawl back into the game and cut the lead to three points at 58-55 going to the fourth quarter.

Su’s triple gave Royal its first lead in the game at 60-58.

Scrambling to get back the lead, Atong Villanueva and Richard Tan combined to keep the game close with their free throws and three-point plays, while Aldrian Tan and Wilson Dy kept the offense going for Royal Star.

Up by a point at 72-71 with 1:20 left, Royal Star committed a costly turno over allowing Brian Ong to score on a layup for Basecom.

Ong also forced a turnover in the succeeding play for an Arian Chua uncontested layup to give Basecom a three-point lead.

Failing to take advantage of Basecom’s missed free throws, Royal Star started to fade in the final seconds allowing Basecom to win the crown.

Villanueva led a balanced offensive game for Basecom with 13 points while Errol Su had a game-high 22 points for Royal Star.*NAB

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