Despite absorbing a crushing 79-48 loss to Harbour Centre last Thursday, the Shoe Stars got off to a strong start, wavered a bit in the third before coming through with a whirlwind end-game attack to shock the Complete Protectors who absorbed their first defeat in four games.  

Gilbert Bulawan of Pharex (center); San Mig Coffee's Glenn Bolocon (left) and Ramon Mabayo

"It was a gamble, we were losing the game so why settled for an overtime?" said a jubilant coach Leo Isaac. "Actually, medyo malayo-layo pa ang tinira ni Noy."

The win was actually a fitting gift for Noosa Shoes owner Dioceldo Sy who celebrated his 50th birthday yesterday. It also gave Harbour Centre the solo lead.

"Magandang gift ito sa akin," beamed the amiable team owner. "Sana makaisa pa ulit kami."

Earlier, San Mig Coffee ended a two-game losing run by downing Pharex, 92-81.

Javier topscored for the Shoes Stars with 18 points despite his 3-of-10 shooting from the 3-point zone.

For a while, Hapee appeared headed for its fourth straight win after taking a 72-65 lead with three minutes left. But Allan Evangelista made six points and Kevin dela Pena added a crucial trey to close in a 74-76 with 13 ticks left.

Evangelista then broke Hapee’s last offensive play by tapping the inbound pass of Mark Borboran that enabled Jemal Viscarra to grab the ball.

Viscarra went for the game-tying basket but Gabe Norwoods partially rejected his shot with only 2.3 ticks. That proved to be the big break the Shoe Stars needed to win the game.

Putting more premium on team defense instead of relying on one-on-one plays, the Coffee Kings watched the Medics self-destruct in the last four minutes to snap a two-game losing run.

"We have to have faith to stay positive considering all the trials and challenges we faced and so we decided to go back to the basic," coach Koy Banal said. "Thankfully, it paid off. We hope to start from this win."

Neil Raneses led San Mig Coffee with 17 points despite playing only in the first three quarters. He was pulled out late in the third after his nose was accidentally hit by Ronnie Matias.

The Pharex had several chances to close in the fourth but they made hurried shots — most of them from the 3-point territory — thus ending a two-game winning streak.

Also hot for the Coffee Kings was Joel Solis who scattered 15 points, including six in the last five minutes.

The Medics, who won only two games in their maiden campaign in the league last conference, rallied to within 78-82 on the efforts of Matias, Fritz Bauzon and Sean Co with a little more than three minutes left.

But a putback by Solis and a triple by Glen Bolocon with only 76 seconds left virtually sealed the win for the Coffee Kings who had three other players scoring in double figures.

A big letdown for the Medics was former pro Ronnie Bughao who shot horribly this time.

Cited as the Best Player of the Week by the PBL Press Corps only a few days back, the 5-foot-10 Bughao was held to just two point after missing all his four attempts from the trifectaville.

His poor shooting negated his seven-assist, fivesteal and two-rebound performance.

SAN MIG 91 — Raneses 17, Solis 15, Losentes 14, Alcarez 10, Saldua 10, Custodio 8, Bolocon 7, Mabayo 6, Balneg 2, Arao 2, Sorongon 0.

PHAREX 82 — Matias 17, Bauzon 14, Co 12, Oreta 10, Saladaga 9, Gerilla 8, Villamin 4, Allera 4, Bughao 2, De Guzman 2, Bulawan 0.

Quarters: 24-26, 44-40, 68-60, 91-82.

SAN MIG 24 20 24 23 — 91

PHAREX 26 14 20 22 — 82

NOOSA 77 — Javier 18, Evangelista 13, Serios 8, Ciriacruz 8, Mangahas 7, Dela Pena 5, Vizcarra 5, Wilson 4, Burtscher 4, Celada 4, Robles 0.

HAPEE 76 — Norwood 18, Borboran 16, Mercado 9, Saguindel 8, Cruz 7, Espiritu 6, Rodriguez 5, Grijaldo 4, Quinday 3, Viray 0.

Quarters: 19-12, 40-33, 55-58, 77-76.

NOOSA 19 21 15 22 — 77

HAPEE 12 21 25 18 — 76