Bacoor City—When Basilan’s fate is on the line, count on Allyn Bulanadi to shine.
Bulanadi drilled in three straight triples in the homestretch to power Basilan Steel over the Bacoor Strikers, 84-76, on Saturday and into the finals of the Chooks-to-Go/MPBL Lakan Season South division at the people-packed Strike Gymnasium here.
The game was tied at 71 following back-to-back triples by homegrown find Ian Melencio, but Bulanadi came through with the dagger threes to sway the balance, 80-71, only 1 minute and 26 seconds to go.
After taking the semifinal series, 2-1, the Steel will battle the Davao Occidental Tigers in another best-of-three affair for the South division crown.
Basilan also bested Bacoor in the series opener, 77-63, but yielded Game Two, 69-80, as the Strikers played tough despite the absence of MPBL Datu Cup MVP Gab Banal, who sustained a left knee injury following a collision with Bulanadi in Game One.
Banal did not play again last night, leaving a gaping hole on Bacoor’s offensive rotation.
In contrast, Bulanadi struck hard for Basilan with 35 points, including six triples, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal.
“Allyn hit the biggest shots of the gamer that pulled us to victory,” said Basilan coach Jerson Cabiltes. “That’s why he is in the Gilas program.”
The 6-foot-2 Bulanadi, former star of San Sebastian College, got support from Jay Collado with 18 points plus 15 rebounds and Jerald Bautista with 13 points, four assists and three rebounds.
Though Cris Dumapig only scored four, he grabbed 15 rebounds for the Steel, who ruled the boards, 54-44.
Melencio wound up with 22 points, five rebounds and four assists, followed by Mark Pangilinan with 11 points, and Michael Mabulac with 10 points plus 13 rebounds.
In the third quarter, Bulanadi bunched 10 points, highlighted by a two-handed slam, against only two by the Strikers to give the Steel a 55-47 lead.
The scores:
Basilan-Jumbo Plastic 84 – Bulanadi 35, Collado 18, Bautista 13, Manalang 4, Dumapig 4, Balucanag 4, Gabo 2, Palencia 2, Uyloan 2, Hallare 0, Bringas 0, Daa 0.
Bacoor 76 – Melencio 22, Pangilinan 11, Mabulac 10, Montuano 8, Acuña 7, Cañete 5, Castro 4, Aquino 3, Demusis 2, Ramirez 2, Sumalinog 2, Destacamento.
Quarter scores: 19-22, 41-35, 60-56, 84-76.
