Conrad Catapusan converted a game-winning triple as the No. 8 seed Iloilo United Royals pulled off an 89-86 stunner over the No. 1 ranked Bacoor City Strikers in Game 1 of the 2023 MPBL Southern Division first round playoffs on late Saturday night at the STRIKE Gym in Bacoor, Cavite.
With the score tied at 86-all after a split free throw by Strikers’ Chito Jaime, Catapusan banked in a three-pointer from beyond the arc to surge the United Royals on top for good at 89-86.
Catapusan finished with nine points and two rebounds as the United Royals completed their fightback from 23 points down to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three first-round series.
“I just trusted what I could do, and nadala lang din sa laro na buti na lang na-shoot,” Catapusan said. “Tsamba na lang din ‘yung shot na ‘yun eh, buti pumasok, and I am very grateful.”
“We are just trusting the system now, trusting each other. We have each other’s back. Job is not yet done; we will try to reach the finals,” added the former University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons forward.
Lorenzo Navarro spearheaded the attack with a double-double of 16 points and 14 assists. Joshua Flores also finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds for the United Royals.
Jeffrey Ryan Ongteco and Shaquille Imperial had 13 and 12, respectively, while homegrown player Omar Larupay had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Ilonggos.
Jhan Nermal top-scored for the Strikers with 23 points, including five triples; James Kwekuteye also ended up with 23 markers; and Yvan Ludovice and Jaime finished with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
The post Iloilo stuns favored Bacoor on Conrad Catapusan’s game-winning trey first appeared on Fastbreak.
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