Kama Motors stun Realtors in OT in PCBL opener

Racal Kama Motors rallied from 20 points down to stun Sta. Lucia, 99-92, in overtime at the start of the Pilipinas Commercial Basketball League Founders Cup at Pasig Sports Center Monday night.

Jessie Saitanan, the former Mapua Cardinal, shone in the fourth quarter where he unleashed eight of his 12 points, including two triples that completed Kama Motors’ comeback.

“We really pinpointed our mistakes during halftime,” said Racal Kama Motors coach Jing Ruiz in Filipino. “But I have huge trust in my players. This is a strong team and the ex-pros, they know what to do in this kind of situation so I know that they will deliver.”

Ex-PBA players Roider Cabrera and Rudy Lingganay led Racal with 25 and 23 points, respectively while Mark Montuano added 21.

The three keyed Racal Kama Motor’s huge run in the fourth period. They were trailing by 16, 44-68, entering the fourth period, before outscoring the Realtors, 28-14.

Montuano scored 10 in the pivotal stretch while Cabrera had eight.

Cabrera was fouled while taking a three-pointer with his team trailing by five, 77-82, with 42.7 seconds to go. The former Adamson Falcon made the first two and missed the third, but Lingganay came out of nowhere for the putback as Kama Motors moved within striking distance, 81-82.

Lingganay stole the ball in the ensuing play off a bad pass by Rob Celiz and was fouled in the process. He split his charities with 34 seconds for the first deadlock of the game

Both teams failed to score in the next two offensive trips setting up the overtime.