Armed with a steely resolve, J and J completed its ascend to the top of the Intermediate Division of the 2016 Next5Hoops Metro Manila Central Leg Qualifier.
Despite trailing for most of the game, J and J still came out on top with an impressive 99-95 Finals victory over Tsek Repablik in overtime last February 5 at EJG Lucky Gym.
There was no lead that J and J didn’t manage to overcome, including Tsek Repablik’s seemingly-dangerous five-point lead with 1:26 left in OT.
After Dannybelle Diocampo made it 95-90, J and J wouldn’t let Tsek Repablik score again and clinched the championship with a superb nine-to-nothing run led by JR Olegario.
Olegario, who later named Most Valuable Player of the Finals, sent the game into overtime with a clutch two-pointer before scoring six of his team nine points in the extension.
He finished with 33 points, 10 rebounds and five assists with just a single turnover in 40 minutes of action off the bench.
But Olegario had plenty of help with Jason Manuel and Ryan Beldad chipping in 28 and 13 points, respectively, for J and J, which was even sorely outrebounded by Tsek, 75-59.
J and J jumped to an early 9-2 lead, but that was the last Olegario and company would be ahead until the final minute of the game as they trailed the rest of the way.
In the payoff period, J and J held Tsek Repablik scoreless in the final 2:13 and score six straight points to tie the game at 90.
It was a heartbreaking defeat for Tsek Repablik, which led by as many as 10 points in the second quarter but couldn’t convert when it mattered the most.
Four players had double-digit scoring efforts for Tsek Repablik with June Crespo, the team’s most consistent producer the entire season, leading the way with 19.
