Ever Bilena Stops Smart Buddy
(December 17, 2008)

Game Tomorrow
(Guadalupe Viejo Sports Complex)
4 p..m. – Smart Buddy vs Ever Bilena (Finals, Game 2)

Ever Bilena weathered off the spirited challenge of Smart Buddy-University of the Philippines in the final half to score a 67-57 win in Game 1 of their title series in the Women’s Philippine Basketball League last night at the Letran gym in Intramuros.

The Gandang Pinay almost squandered a 46-29 lead in the third period but hung tough behind the timely sniping of Auimi Ono and Nikki Leonardo to draw first blood in their best-of-three title series.

Ever Bilena can clinch its third title in the country’s only women’s league with another win tomorrow at the Guadalupe Viejo Sports Complex in Makati.

Tension steadily built up at Ever Bilena’s bench when the Manny V. Pangilinan-backed Lady Archers moved within 57-61 with a little over a minute left.

But it proved to be their last gallant stand as the Gandang Pinay of former PBL Chairman Dioceldo Sy came through with big plays to finally seal the win.

"Medyo nagre-relax ang mga bata kapag lumalaki ang lamang. I just told the them to take it easy sa laro and we got our breaks down the stretch," said Gandang Pinay coach Pat Aquino.

For the first time, it was Ono who topscored for Gandang Pinay with 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists.

Leonardo, who starred in the team’s semis win over Oracle Residences, finished with 16 points, 14 of them in the first half that saw then take a 35-23 halftime lead.

As usual, former UAAP MVP Marichu Bacaru produced yet another huge numbers with 14 points, six assists and the same number of boards.

Fille Cainglet paced Smart Buddy-UP with 17 markers.

Smart-UP top gun Sai Sadorra had 13 boards but was ineffective in the offensive end. She finished only with seven points on 3-of-13 shooting.

The scores:

Ever Bilena 67 – Ono 19, Leonardo 16, Bacaro 14, Buenacosa 9, Orillano 3, Casakit 3, Noscal 3, Gregorio 0, Fermin 0, Carreon 0, Teotico 0, Bombeo 0, Obrador 0.

Smart Buddy 57 – Cainglet 17, Tolentino 11, Paz 8, Sadorra 7, Stevens 4, Asistio 2, Bautista 2, Cruz 2, Marzan 2, Roma 2, Tomelden 0, Faustino 0.

Quarters: 11-12; 35-23; 49-35; 67-57

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