INQUIRER Sports

CEBU CITY? Melvin Mamaclay drilled two triples in the closing minutes to spark the Misamis Oriental Meteors to a thrilling 70-62 victory Monday over the Pampanga Buddies at the start of the Smart Liga Pilipinas Conference 3 Super Leg at the Cebu Coliseum.

Unable to operate at the heavily defended paint, the 6-foot-6 Mamaclay delivered all his points from beyond the arc in the last quarter as the Meteors rallied from a 48-55 deficit to down the Smart Buddies.

Patrick Cabahug tossed in 19 points and Erian Daja added 12 for the Meteors, who also drew a couple of key steals from Mike Moreno at the height of Pampanga?s desperate rally in the last period.

Former University of the East Warrior Hans Thiele finished with 14 points while Allan Husted and Jonathan Aldave added 12 and 10 points each for the Buddies, who started the game the slight favorite.

The top team after the single-round Super Leg stage will advance outright to the finals while the second-ranked team and the No. 3 squad will dispute the other championship slot.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and sponsored by Smart, Accel, Nolten, Burlington, Biofresh, Calcium Free, Gatorade, San Miguel Beer, Air21, Casino Alcohol, Omega Pain Killer, M Lhuillier Kwarta Padala and host Cebu councilor Yayoy Alcoseba.

The scores:

Misamis Oriental 70?Cabahug 19, Daja 12, Saldua 7, Mamaclay 6, Lamocha 6, Kong 5, Misa 4, Moreno 4, Mente 2, Guiyab 0

Pampanga Smart Buddies 62?Thiele 14, Husted 12, Aldave 10, Asoro 9, Magpayo 6, Gelig 5, Saguindel 3, Daroya 2, Villamin 1, Tan 0, Al. Espiritu, An. Espiritu 0, Taylor 0.

Quarters: 16-13; 33-30; 48-55; 70-62