Contenders Ilocandia Bulls and Liquid Skyy Dragons hanged on as they went to beat their respective foes, Sunday to take the Division title in Game Three of the best of three Division Finals of the Filipino Basketball League (FBL) at the Palau National gym.

The Ilocandia Bulls weathered the storm as the troika of Edward Baysa, Marvic Ngchar and RB Dorado used their agilities to power their team from a come from behind victory over a much taller Surangel Stars, 109-106.

Trailing 104-98 with 1:06 remaining in the fourth quarter, Dorado, Ngchar and Baysa spurted a 6-0 run to tie the game at 104-all with just 56 ticks remaining in the clock. The Bulls trapping defense caught the Stars in confusion and with that Dorado made a steal and passed the ball to a cutting Baysa who would give the Bulls a 106-104 edge in the dying seconds of the game.

The Bulls would then continue their defensive stance as Ngchar secured another steal and was fouled on his way into the basket. His lay up was counted and he connected with his free throw as he would extend their lead to 109-104. The Stars would then score in their possession to make it 109-106.

With 10 second left in the game, the Stars were not able to secure a clean possession as Leo Magcalas was fouled. Magcalas would then miss all his charities at the foul line giving the rebound to the Bulls in which time expired giving them the win and the Division A title.

Dorado finished the game with 38 points as Ngchar and Baysa chipped in 24 and 21 baskets, respectively.

On the other hand, the Stars who could have won the game, but did not have the second wind to push through plus with their ace scorer Arnold Undecimo fouling out of the game in the 7:24 mark of the fourth quarter.

Rex de Asis topscored for the Stars with 24 as ZJ Asido and Bong Gayongorza added 17 and 15 on the losing end.

In Division B, Liquid Skyy Dragons’ Rene Bautista and Jun Bautisa muscled their way into the paint as they led their team to a 92-83 victory over the Rams and win the Division title.

Rene Bautista finished the game with 25 markers while Jun Bautista collected 21 to lead the scoring fray for the Dragons while Ronnel Dato led the scoring chores for the Rams with 15 on the losing end.

With the Division Finals over, the Season Finals opens anew with eight teams looking for a slot in the semifinals.

Games will resume on May 18 with the Ilocandia Bulls versus Hanpa Cardinals at 11 a.m. followed by the Surangel Stars-Rams tussle at 12:30 p.m. Western Union will meet the Liquid Skyy Dragons at 2 p.m. while the Aloha Maid Choppers will battle the Royal Cargo Rangers in the main game at 3:30 p.m.

The winners of the Magic 8 quarterfinals will move on to the Final Four with a chance to earn a slot to the Season Finals.

The Filipino Basketball League (FBL) is under the supervision of the Palau Basketball Federation (PBF). By Peter Erick L. Magbanua (Island Times News)