(MENAFN- Arab Times) Achie Dequina scored his final point in the dying minutes for the National Aviation Services Matar Warriors to square up with KAI, 81-81, as the latter conceded the game due to multiple foul troubles as the PBLK conference basketball league continues at the Khaitan Sports Club on Friday afternoon.
Dequina finished with 20 points while Yumul tallied 18 and forward Alvin contributed 13 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists for the NAS effort.
Buoyed by Josh Ryan and Ochoco, who got hot early on kickoff to shoot their side ahead 49-29 early into the opening half, KAI outscored NAS 11-9 in the first six minutes of the second half and managed to defend their advantage as an NAS comeback in the half was stifled by the shackling of Dequina who finished as the game's MVP at 20 points.
Dequina and his crew managed to roar back into the game on a 16-7 run in the third quarter to slice down their deficit to just four points, 54-50, two minutes to the close of the third quarter.
Missing four shots in quick succession, the NAS coach was forced to call a timeout to steady his team. Helped by back-to-back jumpers by Yumul, NAS again boosted their score line coming within 3 points of KAI, 23-20 at the close of the third.
NAS turned the screws further on KAI following a few substitutions and a timeout in the final stretch. Dequina led a hard-nosed attack bombarding the KAI hoop repeatedly as the KAI defence withstood Dequina's desperate bid to bring his team all the way back.
KAI dimmed their chances with a series of turnovers in the final stretch and effectively turning the game over to NAS as their key forward Derrick Estanislao was fouled out and two other players in foul trouble. Dequina scored to bring the score line to 81-81 as KAI conceded defeat at that point.
Meanwhile, in another game, the HPI Hyperians easily defeated Kalexco Extruders 85-71 in the second game of the inter-company division, as Borj Alisbo made the go-ahead dunk with ten seconds left to propel the Hyperians past the Extruders. The Hyperians took an early first quarter lead to close the quarter 2 points ahead, 15-13, Alisbo scripting the lead.
The Extruders rallied back into the fray two minutes into the second quarter as Freddie Cortez hit two free throws with seven seconds left to end the second quarter, nibbling down their deficit to one point. And following a timeout Kalexco inbounded to Allen Santiago, who dribbled to the lane and passed to Sison, who slammed the ball with his right hand for another Kalexco point that brought the score line to 22-22 at the end of the third, 61-46 in aggregate. Kalexco continued on their edge but were only able to finish the last quarter 25-24 to bring the final score line to 85-71 for the Hyperians.
In game three, Body Building won 78-63 over On-Time while Star Power finished 85-59 against Brotherhood in the final game of the day.
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