F/C Primiano Genizera came up with the biggest basket of the game to hold off a game Kleen X squad as Biñan City Rage came up with the 97-95 win in Game 2 of the Division III.5 Finals series last night at the VDX Pavilion.
With both teams braving rains and some power interruptions, Kleen X came roaring back with an 8-0 run to turn a once 84-91 deficit into a 92-91 lead after Kevon Sadler’s 3-pointer with 55secs left in the game. It was then that Coach Macoy Bolivia designed a beautiful after timeout play with Genizera scoring off Florencio Dullavin’s 8th assist of the game.
From then on it was just a matter of the Rage making their free throws while trying to defend Kleen X’s 3pt onslaughts.
Genizera led the Rage with 22pts while fellow frontcourt players Goring Miñoza and Boyet Tayao ably supported him with double doubles. Miñoza had 21pts, 12rebs and 3blks while Tayao, who battled foul trouble throughout the game, had his usual all-around game with 17pts, 19rebs and 4 assists.
For Kleen X, they had 3 players score at least 20pts led by Sadler’s 25. They defeated the Rage at the same venue 2mos ago, 108-93 before losing Game 1 of the Finals at home, 87-92.
The Rage had to overcome homecourt disadvantages in the Semis and in the Finals which made the championship so much sweeter. They dominated over Top Seed Nibaliw Norte MJAM in the semis, 140-114 setting up the Finals match with Kleen X.
With the win, the Rage await which Division II they move up to. But for now, they look forward to the draft results on Monday and the much needed break before returning for a tougher Season 59.